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"The Best of Youth" time well spent

It should at least stoke my readers' curiosity that after sitting three hours in one of New York City's most uncomfortable theatres (why do the best films always show in the worst venues?), I returned the next day, bracing poor views and awful seating, for a second helping of "The Best of Youth." The fact the showings of both halves were sold out days in advance and attendance did not fall off during the overnight intermission should confirm that "La meglio gioventù," or "The Best of Youth," is an exceptional film (not only in its incomparable length). With this extremely limited release film probably best watched in the comfort of one's own home, previously unknown Italian filmmaker Marco Giordana ("Un Altro mondo è possible"/"Another World is Possible" and "I centro passi"/"The Hundred Steps") breaks onto the world stage with a critically-beloved and heart-stealing crash.

The story, written by accomplished Italian writing team Sandro Petraglia and Stefano Rulli ("Le chiavi di casa"/"The Keys to the House" and "La Tregua"/"The Truce" are among their more than a dozen collaborations), traces postwar Italy through the diverse and lovely Carati family and their friends.

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As the family is torn apart by politics and tested by tragedy as well as triumph, the film's primary hero, Nicola (Luigi Lo Cascio of "The Hundred Steps"), learns the true meaning of his personal motto, "everything is beautiful." Nicola matures into a man as he struggles to be a good father and an advocate for the mentally ill even as he deals with a disturbed, radical wife and a distant, brutal brother.

Though the film richly analyzes and teaches us about the politics that make Nicola's sister the sole surviving judge of a Sicilian mafia massacre and put his best friend in the top ranks of the Bank of Italy, grand affairs don't overtake the lives of these exceptional individuals.

Though its low budget precluded fancy cinematography and the acting is uneven in its professionalism, the beautiful writing manages to hold the audience's heart and attention for six hours and make this film a true winner. Showing the beautiful arc of life and demonstrating the wisdom that only years can bring, "The Best of Youth" is worth the enormous investment of time and emotional energy its viewing requires. Amazingly, after six hours, I myself was eager for another few hours with film's characters, who I found increasingly compelling and sympathetic as the film progressed. If you are desperate to consume a bit of the best of your youth, a trek to Greenwich Village is necessary. But if not, I recommend waiting for a home video version . . . the wait will not be much longer than the film, after all.

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