Best of Youth - Mae Crosby

Part 1

Best of Youth is a great film about two brothers who take different routes in life, and I like what I have watched so far. I am confused about how exactly Matteo found out about the mental illness institution, and how he was left with Giorgia. I feel like he just randomly showed up and was in charge of taking car of her. I wish there was more of a back story or if there was any former connections. However, I like that Nicola gets involved with helping Matteo get Giorgia help. I really enjoy the relationship between the two brothers. As much as Matteo seems more reserved but lashes out easily, Nikola appears to be more friendly and talkative to everyone and keeps calm. I think the difference between them also makes them rely on each other for help and just someone to talk to, because then, there are different points of views. 

Giulia and Nicola make an interesting couple because they seem to be somewhat opposites, but they also make it work. I liked the initial interaction between Giulia and Matteo because it added tension, and then it makes us wonder what will happen with the relationship between the brothers as well. I really liked how the brothers continue to interact and come across each other after they go their seraprate ways, especially in Florence. It promotes the theme of family and brotherhood.

I feel like this differs from classical Hollywood because it doesn't give a clear cut goal. In the beginning of most classical Hollywood films, we know what the problem is and what the mission is, which is usually solving that issue by the end. However, in this film, we aren't exactly sure what the problem is in the beginning, we are left wondering what happens to Giorgia, and we need to watch more to figure out what the characters are doing and why. I wouldn't have ever guessed that Matteo was going to go into the military in the beginning of the film. Another part of the Hollywood film is a heterosexual romance, and while Nicola has a lady, Matteo does not after the beginning of the movie, and we don't know what happened to her. I like that this film keeps you guessing, where the audience is spoonfed information for Hollywood films. For example, I thought that the brothers were going to go look for Giorgia after she was taken away, but instead, they decide to go their own ways and their own journeys. Not only are we wondering what happened to Girogia, we are also wondering what the brothers are going to do next. Many Italian films during this time were also filmed on the streets and on location instead of in studios. This helped create a more real and serious feeling and story in general, especially when they were helping clean up the flood. 

In conclusion, I like this film so far because of its storyline that keeps us on our toes and the relationship between the brothers. I am excited to see what happens next and where the brothers end up in the end. 

Part 2

The second part of Best of Youth really delves into the familial relationships that Nicola has between Giulia, Matteo, and his daughter. I loved watching how Giulia and Nicola started growing father apart, and Nicola wanted to protect his daughter from their problems as much as possible. The thing that hit me the most was when Nicola saw Giulia in their house smoking with anarchists, he ignored her and went straight to Sara and took her on a walk to get her out of the house and away from the bad people. Nicola wanted to free Sara. He had a more nurturing relationship with his parents than Matteo, and I think that is the reason why he is such a family man. 

When comparing Matteo and Nicola, it interests me seeing how dynamic they are as characters. Matteo slowly becomes more open with his emotions and other people, while Nicola becomes more stiff and easy to anger when Giulia leaves. I think this hits home the idea of family harder and how much the brothers need each other. Matteo especially needs Nicola because Nicola has been there for him much more then the parents. I am glad that Nicola found Giorgia, and now we know what happened to her. I am hopeful that she is the reason why the brothers come together, and maybe Matteo will even move to Torino to be with Nicola, Sara and Giorgia. There are definitely strong parallels between Matteo and Giorgia. Seeing the similarities, I wonder if that will help Nicola to beome closer to both as he understands both of them more. 

In the end, I think that Nicola just wants what is best for his family and himself. Slowly, we saw signs that Giulia was an anarchist, and we knew it when she got the gun and wanted to leave. Nicola knew there was something going on with Giulia but couldn't place it quite yet. Had she not become more distant and short-fused earlier, I think he would have pressured her more to stay for their daughter at least. But he knew that it was only going to get worse for her and them if she didn't go, so he let her leave so she could be happy and free, and their daughter could have a better chance at a happier and a life without an abusive mother (assuming she would turn out to be that in the future). 

Matteo's relationship with women interests me as well. I do believe that the lack of affection from his mother has made it harder to socialize and understand women more, but I also think that he hasn't been around women a whole lot since the military, and he just hasn't been able to work on his communication skills with them. When it comes to needing rules and order, women will be a distraction for him, and I think that he is avoiding that. I am hoping that his relationship with Sara develops into a close bond that helps both Sara and Matteo to find happiness and some guidance in life.

I am excited to see how the story develops now that Girogia is back in the story, and I also want to see what happens with Nicola and Giulia. I just hope that nothing bad happens especially to Nicola because despite his occassional rage outbursts, he is still doing his best and trying to help others while also trying to make sure his family and friends are doing well, too. 

Part 3

I am surprised with Matteo’s suicide, but looking back, I don’t think that it was out of the blue. He didn’t know what to do with the freedom he had while living, so he chose to be free by killing himself. Although it wasn’t the outcome I was hoping for, I just wanted what was best for him, and his choice freed him from loneliness, the hardships of life, and no sense of direction. I think he had a hard time with that because he was raised without any direction and had to figure out a lot of things on his own. 

When Mirella and Nicola took their walk, I thought something was going to happen between them, but then I went back to that when I saw Matteo come up behind them and put his hands on their shoulders. I saw it as a sign that he was with them, and that Nicola and Mirella were there for each other solely to confide in each other and share the pain of losing Matteo. But once they made out, it solidified my thought that they were going to get together. I don’t like the idea that they ended up being together, but I am also a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and if Matteo leaving was the need in order for them to be together and finally be happy, then that must have been it, and Matteo was giving them his blessing.

When the mother passed, I didn’t like that a child read the letter, and how painfully slow he was at getting through it (I know he was just a kid but still). Even though Nicola didn’t know what was going to be on that letter, it is a sign that you should read your mail before others do. I like that the mother passed away peacefully. I see it that she was ready to leave the earth to rekindle her relationship with her son, and to tell him about all of the things that he missed out on in life.

I like that the movie ended with another generation finding what was beautiful in life and exploring Norway. It was like in remembrance of Matteo and carrying on Nicola’s legacy. I think they will be social and engaging in the community, just not in the anarchist way. I think that it will be more in the form of being human rights activists and helping others, not killing others. I would rate this film an 8/10. Despite its time holes and the sad parts, it tells a great story and delivers a great message: everything is beautiful.

-Mae Crosby