Italian cinema has produced some beautiful films over the years. Cinema Paradiso and Life is Beautiful are two of the better known pictures. You can be assured the production design of films coming from Italy’s most talented directors will be impeccable. Marco Tullio Giordana’s 2003 production La meglio gioventù or The Best of Youth is no exception. It is simply unmissable. There is no room for argument or criticism – I will not tolerate it.
Spanning over 40 years (368 minutes running time) and taking place across Rome, Turin, Milan, Florence, Tuscany and Palermo, this award winning epic follows the lives of 2 equally idealistic yet politically misaligned brothers during some of Italy’s most tumultuous events in recent history. A single event sends them in opposite directions, yet they find themselves intersecting time and time again, drawn together by their blood bond, their dreams and a series of flawed characters driven by mental illness, terrorism, family issues and politics.
Once you begin the journey you will be left wondering how strange it is that you had never heard of this incredible film before. Its one that you hope will never end. You will become conflicted, simply unable to stop watching but knowing that the more you consume, the faster the end approaches. Do not miss this.
Read the full plot summary for The Best Of Youth on IMDB
Tip: Check out Giordana’s 2012 film, Piazza Fontana: The Italian Conspiracy