At the young age of sixty-five, Jep Gambardella, a successful former creative, finds himself seeing life in an entirely new perspective as he begins to search for a stronger understanding regarding his life, and the various forms of creativity that have formed his society over a thousand years.
With an apartment that overlooks the ruins of the Colosseum of Rome, Jep finds himself also in ruin. Partying frequently with his wealthy friends, but ultimately searching for more meaning in his life as he welcomes his old age. He's surrounded by a history of deep thought; one that still displays the creations within the various art-forms that developed his country through time, combining philosophy and existentialism with art.
The film's background never fails to display art, constantly reminding us of what beauty is, constantly reminding Jep of time wasted, even getting him to question whether he should begin writing again amidst the revival of relationships; given he's famous for his works as a writer and journalist in his twenties, but has very little to show for since then.
Filmed on 35mm negative, the film reflects the obsolete feeling of Jep; the colours are darker, and the film grain adds onto the dated, existential emotions of the protagonist. We see a dull world filled with immense beauty, but none of it really means anything; but what's worse, not adding onto the beauty, or wasting your time?