DVD Review
Film: Youth Without Youth
Studio: American Zoetrope
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Principal actors: Tim Roth, Alexandra Maria Lara, Bruno Ganz, Marcel Iures, André M. Hennicke, Alexandra Pirici
Release date: December 14th, 2007 (limited); May 13, 2008 (on DVD)
Film length: 124 min
Rating: R 

Reviewed By: Corrine Aberdeen (Toronto Correspondent - Canada) 

Youth Without Youth, based on Romanian author Mircea Eliade's 1976 novella of the same name, marks legendary director Francis Ford Coppola's return to directing after a ten year hiatus. Set in Romania on the cusp of World War II, Youth Without Youth follows Dominic Matei (Tim Roth) a linguistics scholar as he regains his youth after being struck by lightening which not only rejuvenates him physically but also enhances his already amazing intellect endowing him with superhuman powers. Along his journey from the late twentieth century through to the 1960s Dominic crosses countries fleeing Nazi scientists, encounters a woman who may or may not be a reincarnation of his lost love (Alexandra Maria Lara) and is forced to choose between the great love of his life and completing his life's work.

Coppola adapted the novella for the screen, produced and directed the project, yet Youth Without Youth is a far cry from past Coppola blockbusters like The Godfather or Apocalypse Now, and the grandeur a Coppola fan would expect for the director's return to filmmaking. Youth Without Youth is more reminiscent of the art cinema of Ingmar Bergman and the pretension of David Lynch think Wild Strawberries meets Inland Empire. 

The stunning images almost overshadow the clumsy dialogue about philosophy, religion and theories of metempsychosis, but their artificiality at times becomes too transparent making it impossible to ever become wholly absorbed in the film. The confusing plot plays with time, memories, dream and reality leaving the viewer behind as it continues its indecipherable, pretentious spiel. The DVD contains special features that make the Youth Without Youth experience all that much more enjoyable; the director's commentary option contains Coppola's impassioned annotations and descriptions of the filming process which help illuminate confusing plot points.

Other extras on the DVD include a making-of featurette with cast and crew interviews detailing filming on location in Romania and working with the renowned director as well as features about the haunting and beautiful music composed for the film and the makeup which masterfully ages Roth as the protagonist from eighteen to seventy-eight.     

Not to anathematize Youth Without Youth because on the whole it is quite enjoyable and intelligent; however, it is nowhere near the triumphant return to filmmaking expected for Francis Ford Coppola, often ranked among the best directors of all time, this project seems more along the lines of something the other Coppola director would have made - a lot of buzz without much substance.