Described as "post-Minimalist" in style, New York-based composer David Lang has long been celebrated by many music critics. Now, Mr. Lang will contribute to Paolo Sorrentino's upcoming feature film Youth, which stars Michael Caine, composing a score and the title piece "Simple Song #3." The film opens on December 4.
Youth stars Caine as Fred Ballinger, a composer well-into his old age and passing his remaining time at an Alpine resort.
And what's presented in the film, according to The New York Times, is a musician after his prime and who is reflecting on his youth. The main quandary is whether Ballinger will conduct a concert for his "Simple Song #3," a work that has made him famous but is tied to an irretrievable past.
When Sorrentino came across Mr. Lang's composition, he discovered a unique compound of minimalism in his work -- even going insofar as to use one of David's choral works for The Great Beauty.
Scores are often times are written during post-production, but for the 58-year-old composer, the title track had to be composed before filming took place, as it is the center point of the film.
Mr. Lang told the Times: "I had to try to figure out how to make it that the 'Simple Song' could carry all the emotional story for the Michael Caine character. Like in an opera, you plant motives throughout the movie so that when the song comes, it feels completely new, but something you've heard before."
Music tends to be the focal point of most Sorrentino films, like 2008's Il Divo and 2012's This Must Be the Place, which took its title from the Talking Heads track.
Youth opens this Friday, December 4 in the United States. Preview the trailer below and check out a sample clip at the Times.
