Youth Without Youth 2007

In the year 1938, we follow the story of Dominic Matei, an aged professor of linguistics who resides in Piatra Neamț. Haunted by the futility of his lifelong quest to uncover the origins of human language, Dominic, now in his 70s, embarks on a journey to Bucharest. It is there that he is reunited with the love of his youth, Laura. However, Dominic’s moment of joy swiftly plunges him into deep despair, leading him to contemplate suicide. Just as he stands on the precipice, fate intervenes; he is struck by lightning, which miraculously rejuvenates him, transforming him into a younger man endowed with extraordinary psychic abilities.

As the ominous clouds of Nazi Germany’s invasion loom over Romania, a figure known as Doktor Josef Rudolf begins to take a peculiar interest in Dominic. Now residing with Professor Stanciulescu, Dominic’s newfound talent for speaking in tongues draws attention. His burgeoning powers further entangle his perception of reality, leading him to mistake a Nazi spy for a mere erotic fantasy, urging them to share nights of intrigue. Unbeknownst to him, an invisible entity, termed his “Other,” emerges from beyond the fabric of time and space to provide him with companionship. When Dominic challenges this being to provide proof of its existence, the “Other” delivers two roses seemingly from thin air. Witnessing this peculiar event, Stanciulescu perceives the potential for danger and urges Dominic to flee Romania before the Nazis can ensnare him.

Hiding in Switzerland towards the war’s end, Dominic faces a life-or-death situation when Rudolf corners him at gunpoint in a dark alley. Rudolf vehemently argues that Dominic embodies the Nazis’ twisted vision of the superior man, and that to survive the impending nuclear conflicts, humanity must evolve into a superior species. The “Other” echoes this notion in ominous confirmation. However, as Dominic outright rejects Rudolf’s demands for cooperation, he manifests telekinetic powers, ultimately compelling Rudolf to turn the gun upon himself. This harrowing encounter forces Dominic to retreat back to a mundane existence, re-engaging with his linguistic studies. Through introspection, he realizes that the lightning strike has granted him glimpses into future human knowledge, prompting him to develop a secret language for his audio diary—one that will only be unraveled long after a potential nuclear apocalypse.

As the years roll by, while hiking in the scenic Alps, Dominic meets a woman named Veronica. The “Other” reveals to him that she is, in fact, the reincarnation of Laura. When a violent thunderstorm strikes the mountains, Dominic rushes to protect Veronica, finding her inexplicably chanting in Sanskrit. In an earnest attempt to connect, Dominic greets her in the same ancient tongue, establishing a bond of trust. Following a period in the hospital, Veronica identifies herself as “Rupini”, a disciple of the Buddha. Her last conscious act was to retreat into a cave, seeking enlightenment. A sense of foreboding grips Dominic; he suspects that she may share a fate akin to his own. He reaches out to the Roman College of Oriental Studies, seeking assistance in locating this elusive cave, which leads to a financed expedition to India, aiming to unravel the mysteries surrounding Rupini’s past.

After a series of compelling events, including a Bodhisattva guiding them to the cave, Veronica completely regains her identity and deepens her affections for Dominic. The couple flee to Malta, where one night, Dominic confesses to Veronica in her dreams that he has always loved her. This implies a remarkable journey for Veronica, causing her to delve further into her past selves. As she begins chanting in ancient Egyptian—an unfamiliar tongue to Dominic—he avidly studies the new language, guiding her further back through time, unlocking new dialects previously unknown to them both. However, this extraordinary endeavor takes a toll on Veronica’s health, leading her to become increasingly fatigued. Dominic realizes that their proximity is proving detrimental to her aging process, resolving that he cannot continue these sessions, which stirs dissent from both Veronica and the “Other.”

Crushed with despair, Dominic returns to Piatra Neamț only to confront the “Other” once more, manifested in a mirror, who discloses a dire vision for humankind. A nuclear apocalypse will reign destruction, giving rise to a more potent breed of humanity of which Dominic is destined to be the first. In stark contrast to this, Veronica represents the very dawn of man’s existence, and Dominic symbolizes the twilight. Outraged by the prospect of sacrificing millions in the name of evolution, he shatters the mirror into a cascade of shards, after which the “Other” disappears, shouting in an unintelligible language. Tragically, the following morning, the townspeople discover Dominic’s lifeless body at the foot of a staircase, clutching the fateful third rose in his hands—forever marking the enigmatic intertwining of his life with destiny.