Youth Without Youth

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source: Youth Without Youth

I was buzzed about seeing this film. Everyone knows it's been too long since Coppola's previous film. Advance reviews were intriguing. And Tim Roth is such a fine actor. But what happened? The short answer is "too much!" The long answer is "not enough ... editing." Other reviewers here have commented more pointedly and eloquently about this film's shortcomings. Suffice it to say, this film, despite the best of Coppola's intentions to the contrary notwithstanding, is just plain muddleheaded. Oh, and too long by half. Not to be cruel, but stick to the wine biz, Mr. Coppola. You're doing quite well managing the complexities of the grape and terroir. In vino veritas!

In "Heart of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse", a brilliant documentary about making of "Apocalypse Now", Francis Ford Coppola said he was on a learning process while making that film, as he delved into mysteriousness of jungle. In the end, his on-screen works is like a reflection to his own experience. Many years later (20 years to be exact) and 10 years absent from his latest directorial effort (1997's "The Rain Maker"), Coppola tried to do exact same thing like he did in the past. "Youth Without Youth" is interesting, yet undeniably confusing tale of Dominic Matei (Tim Roth) who is a professor of language and philosophy in early 19th century. His goal is trying to accomplish a research that he claims to be the key of all human's language. But as it turns out, it might be impossible to finish it after all. This research changed his behavior from fascination into obsession. As he lose everything he loves including his fiancé, Veronica (Alexandra Maria Lara), he has nothing left to live on. Many years later, in a blink of World War II, 77-years-old Dominic is on the way to end his miserable life. But then, lightening suddenly stuck at him before he has a chance to do so. The lightening didn't kill him, instead it miraculously rejuvenates his life. Now, he looks like in mid-30's and gave him a supernatural abilities like reading book without open it, mind bending psychic or even developing his own Dr. Jerkyll and Mr. Hyde-like ultra-ego. After World War II's over, Dominic is traveling throughout the world. He began to look into his research again since now he has a plenty of times to do. But then, he accidentally met his fiancé's dead ringer named Laura (also played by Alexandra Maria Lara). As it turned out, she also happened to be stuck by lightening and develops another supernatural ability which she can speak ancient languages while she slept. Dominic knows right away that it might be an only chance for him to accomplish his unfinished project. But it came with one sacrifice condition, if he decides to stay with her, it might be the way to ending her life. There's an only one different thing between getting lost in the jungle of Philippines and getting lost in freezing cold city of Romania. And that is "Youth Without Youth" lose its audience's commitment as we keep accompany him to his personal enlightenment (in another words, he wasn't wholeheartedly let us ride along in this time around). With his beyond comprehensible dialogs about metaphysical theory and non-linear stories that keep tangled up like a maze, Youth Without Youth seem to be a failure. No, it's magnificent failure from the master of modern cinema living today. The cast is another story here, since they served their duty pretty well especially Tim Roth (again, one of the most unused actor living today) who would do all it take to make us believe in the protagonist. And he seemed to really understand what Francis Ford Coppola is trying to achieve. The movie also accompanied by beautiful score (if shamelessly cloying) by Osvaldo Golijov and surprisingly neat cinematography by Mihai Malaimare Jr. "Youth Without Youth" require a multiple viewing, in order to understand some of its massages. Truth be told, I didn't really get it. Coppola once said in the interview that this story is very personal to him. Well, maybe this film wasn't exactly making for us. It's sure gonna make a lot of people frustrated. For me, I'm just glad that he's back to work again.

Youth Without Youth is a pretentious mess. Pretensiousness is underrated in films today, but that doesn't save it from not working. Coppolla seems to still remember the mechanics of film making, but he hasn't recovered the fervor yet. His new film is a beautiful, and sometimes interesting film with fine performances. The fact that it doesn't work is somewhat surprising, and mostly I think due to Coppolla's script and the mediocre editing. It is almost worth seeing just for the cinematography, and the performances by Roth and particularly Lara who are fantastic, but in the end it just isn't quite worth it. No matter how much I wanted to like it, I couldn't. It just didn't quite work.

I would really enjoy speaking with Mr. Capolla concerning this masterful piece of work that he has just recently presented to us. I would like to ask him, what this film means to him, and what Dominic and Vanessa represent to him, in his own life, or in the world today. It is because of the unique direction Capolla took in making this splendid film, that I am presented this opportunity to ask these questions, and many more like them. You simply cannot ask questions of this nature in most of the movies you see out there in this new hi-tech cinema age. I like using my imagination, and doing so in a fashion that allows me to utilize the creative part of my brain to explore and push the limits with my mind's horizon. Due to Capolla's ability with the high level of creativity he obviously possesses and uses (both w/ the story line and the magnificent camera work)in his new film, you are forced to stretch your mind and actually think about what it is you are watching. This is why I enjoyed the film immensely. I consider myself a rare and a unique person,(Im not sure if its just vanity or normalcy?). A person who is open minded so much so, that I often get wrapped up in my thinkings. My thinkings involve, normally, the destiny, the origin, religion, the impossible, the logical, history, future, the "real" meaning, and of course myself is always involved as well.. No matter what triggers the thought at hand these topics always seem to throw themselves into the swirling mixture of my unraveling of new truths,(or fantasies?) While trying ever so persistently to stumble into something....unimaginable, or perhaps, fantastic-sometimes horrific--never the less, I'm constantly "figuring things out", no matter how "absurd". The key is....your ability to open your mind. That, in turn, shall unlock...the ability to watch a film for instance, and relay your personal knowledge and ideas of all subjects in life, to what is unfolding before your eyes on the screen and make a connection...(literally...in life...on film...simultaneously) And then reflect...what could this mean...or, what did I actually just witness...what is this film trying to reveal to me or, say to me...? What if this means....and that represents...?!?!? All movies may not be so fun for your mind and soul to explore in this fashion, however this one is. Analytical, and metaphoric, and symbolic gestures, roles, and events is the name of this game and deep into it you will be if you think about what you are watching, use your imagination to unlock the mysteries and put yourself in their shoes in order to figure out the real meaning of this movie to you, as an individual. What a wonderful film! You see, symbolism is a beautiful thing. And Capolla masters the art of perplexing and dramatic movie making in "Youth Without youth" Definitely a must see for those who enjoy mysterious dramas. Anything, just about, can become an analogy or a metaphor...and it becomes personal, meaningful, and symbolic to each individual who watches, in its very own way. That is, to those who choose to participate in the processes of higher self-learning through film. And I say this as a warning to the weak minded...to those who cannot stand to have to think while watching a movie, they just like being entertained like a child watching his Saturday morning cartoons. If you're one of these weak minded individuals who prefer shallow spoofs, slapstick comedy, and blood, guts, and gore....this glorious film is not for you! I hold it true that one's personal confirmations into these metaphors, this films symbolism(even if made so unintentionally) these confirmations you will make when watching, they can NEVER be proved wrong. Even w/ 1,000 different personal opinionated results. If you understood this commentary and you are similar in the thought processes as I, then, by all means, I believe you shall enjoy this film, whatever it shall mean to you... :)

I am looking in my memory if i can find a worse nutty screenplay in some obscure 70's b-movie but i really can't think of anything so ridiculous and grotesque that is at same time so "ambitious". except for some good filmography, the movie is a real disaster. A large variety of cheap exotic stereotypes that remind of commercials, a confusing, silly and pretentious mixture of fashionable oriental philosophies, low-budget science-fiction, the exorcist, ultra-shallow pseudo-philosophy on human consciousness and time. (But plenty of big, "difficult" words to make you think this is really serious stuff, man!) I could quote some really funny dialogs: "what birds do they have in Malta" "that's a Maltese falcon" (surely very typical of Malta, no doubt about it!) "when i saw you in the cavern, i thought that if i had been 3 or 4 years older, i would marry you" (why the damn just three or four years older???) "the metha... what is that??" anyway, you must see it - and hear it - to believe it. I specially found hilarious the part where Tim Roth invents his own language and start babbling something in a very funny language and also the part where the girl continuously goes through exorcist-like night crisis and each time swtiches to a different language: Sumerian, Babylonian (maybe northern Babylonian?) And the haunting question: where do you want me to put the third rose? (and everyone secretly thinking: up your ass!!!) I really felt ashamed for poor Coppola but still it was hilarious. Movies like this must have a serious psychiatric impact on the public.

I've seen movies that purport to reveal great truths. Those movies fall flat because the revelations they make are not very revealing. This movie doesn't reveal truths of that sort but nonetheless shows the mindset and tribulations of people who (at least claim to) know great things. There are HINTS of paranoia, loves lost, sacrifices made; strange paradoxes (body doubles, visual incongruities, time warps); and great "evils" (Hitler, mad scientists, Nuclear bombs). But none of these are resolved to my satisfaction. So, the movie leaves one with this "final" thought: Though there are suggestions that somehow love (or some other sort of gender confusion / identity crisis) might resolve "everything"; nonetheless, life is morbid. We psychotically BELIEVE in love, genius, greatness, and eternal youth as we EXPERIENCE bloody-red roses, Hitler, hallucinations, and death. Romantic? Maybe not. But a lesson in really GOOD movie making.