Youth

Youth

Year: 2015

Runtime: 107 min

Language: English

Director: Tom Shoval

Drama

A retired conductor, Fred, seeks respite at a Swiss Alps resort with his friend, a painter. While awaiting a performance for the Queen, Fred reflects on his career and the passage of time. He grapples with questions of legacy, mortality, and the challenges of rediscovering his creative passion amidst a changing world. The serene setting provides a backdrop for introspection and unexpected connections.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Youth (2015)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Youth (2015). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

2010s

The story unfolds in contemporary times, set in the 2010s. Aging artists reflect on legacy, fame, and mortality in a world of modern media. Surreal sequences punctuate the narrative, contrasting past glories with present fragility.

Location

Flims, Switzerland, Venice, Italy, United Kingdom

The primary location is a luxury spa resort in Flims, in the Swiss Alps, offering a tranquil retreat for aging celebrities. Scenes also unfold in Venice at a care home and eventually back in the United Kingdom for a royal performance. The setting's opulence and isolation amplify the film's introspective mood and its meditation on memory and legacy.

❄️ Alpine setting 🏨 Luxury spa 🎭 Celebrity retreat

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:43

Main Characters – Youth (2015)

Meet the key characters of Youth (2015), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Fred Ballinger

A septuagenarian composer who has retired from public life and now contemplates his past at the spa. He declines the royal invitation to perform, insisting he no longer seeks the stage, even as music lingers in his head. His memories and quiet longing drive his choices and interactions.

❄️ Aging 🎶 Music 🧭 Legacy

Mick Boyle

A celebrated film director working on his final project, a film he calls his testament. He clashes with Brenda, and the prospect of fading relevance weighs on him. His emotional volatility culminates in a desperate act.

🎬 Film 🧭 Legacy 💔 Grief

Lena

Fred's daughter and Mick's daughter-in-law, who feels the distance of her father and the strain of family loyalties. She remains at the resort, voicing anger at her father's neglect and facing the unraveling dynamics of the group.

💢 Family ❤️ Resilience 🧭 Loyalty

Jimmy Tree

An actor researching a role, frustrated by his reduced status and the perception that he is remembered primarily for a single, robotic part. He navigates the retreat with a sense of unfinished business.

🎭 Acting 🧠 Identity 💫 Aspiration

Brenda Morel

An aging diva whose presence unsettles the others; she arrives and reveals she is pursuing a TV role, claiming cinema is the past and that Mick has not delivered in years.

🎤 Stardom 🕰️ Fame

Paloma Faith

A pop star referenced in the narrative, symbolizing modern celebrity and the transience of fame. Her imagined presence and cultural cachet punctuate the surreal memory sequences.

🎤 Pop culture ✨ Fame

Diego Maradona

An overweight, cameo-like presence at the hotel, used to add surreal humor and a sense of the hotel’s odd, eclectic crowd.

⚽ Icon 😂 Humor

Emissary

An envoy for Queen Elizabeth II who delivers the knighthood invitation and later returns with the back-and-forth of royal expectations.

👔 Royalty 🗣️ Diplomacy

Fred's Wife

Fred Ballinger's wife, senile and living in a Venice care home; her condition frames Fred's memories and his sense of loss across years.

👵 Memory 🏥 Aging

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:43

Major Themes – Youth (2015)

Explore the central themes of Youth (2015), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕰️ Aging

The film centers on septuagenarian friends confronting the passage of time and the fading of their once-vivid careers. They confront the fragility of memory and the uncertainty of what the future holds. The spa’s timeless calm sharpens their introspection about what remains of their identities.

🎭 Art & Legacy

Fred's legacy as a composer and Mick's pursuit of a final 'testament' drive the plot. Their art clings to the past even as the world moves on, highlighting the tension between living reverence and contemporary fame. The film meditates on what it means to leave behind meaningful work.

💭 Memory & Regret

Characters grapple with memories that echo past decisions and relationships. Lena confronts Fred's emotional distance, while Mick wrestles with choices that haunt him. The narrative blends personal regret with moments of surreal recollection.

✨ Fame & Celebrity

The Swiss retreat is populated by figures of celebrity and media, exposing how fame shapes desire and perception. The emissary, the pop-star Paloma Faith, and the memory of Brenda expose the volatility of stardom. The film contrasts glamorous illusions with the characters' underlying vulnerabilities.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:43

Unlock the Full Story of Youth

Don't stop at just watching — explore Youth in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Youth is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Youth Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Youth, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Youth Summary

Youth Timeline

Track the full timeline of Youth with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Youth Timeline

Youth Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Youth that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Youth Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Youth

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Youth: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Youth

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