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The Best of Youth

Play trailer Poster for The Best of Youth R 2003 6h 0m Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
94% Tomatometer 62 Reviews 98% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Two close-knit brothers, Nicola (Luigi Lo Cascio) and Matteo (Alessio Boni), are buffeted by the social and political upheavals that rock their native Italy during the 1960s and '70s as they navigate their way into adulthood, marriage and middle age. Along the way, Nicola meets Giulia (Sonia Bergamasco), the love of his life whose political beliefs take precedence over her personal happiness, while Matteo falls for the lovely photographer-turned-librarian Mirella (Maya Sansa).
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The Best of Youth

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Critics Consensus

Earns its 6 hours running time by telling an engrossing story with compelling characters.

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Critics Reviews

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Ed Gonzalez Slant Magazine This epic elegy to family and country is a towering work of narrative fiction. Rated: 4/4 Feb 5, 2006 Full Review Lisa Kennedy Denver Post Unfolds like a novel full of characters we can't help but care about. Rated: 3.5/4 Jul 29, 2005 Full Review Terry Lawson Detroit Free Press Few films have ever made better use of combining social and political history with romantic melodrama and suspense. Rated: 4/4 Jun 24, 2005 Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Revealing too much of the narrative would spoil the pleasure of learning where Matteo and Nicola find themselves. "Youth" sells us on the idea that life is a gift and that beauty and rejuvenation can come from even seemingly unbearable lows. Rated: 4/4 Sep 25, 2010 Full Review Joe Lozito Big Picture Big Sound Rated: 4/4 Jul 14, 2007 Full Review Phil Villarreal Arizona Daily Star You weep, laugh, celebrate and mourn with the characters throughout the six hours, which at once seem like an eternity and an instant. Rated: 4/4 May 13, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Yash B "The Best of Youth" is a sprawling 6-hour journey that is well worth taking. I can confidently say that this is the longest film I have ever watched, and starting it felt like such a daunting task. The film is a beautiful story that spans multiple decades and engages the audience in these characters' lives. The movie is a mix of many emotions, both happy and sad, and it just feels so real. It is tough for a movie this long to be consistently entertaining or well-paced, but I found myself interested to see where it would go next most of the time. Overall, it is a truly ambitious piece of cinema that many will turn away from because of its enormous length, but those who decide to watch it will find themselves rewarded with a story full of humanity and heart. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/01/25 Full Review René R I won’t do Best of Youth any disservice by trying yet failing to find the right words for it but here goes. If I were given a day to live, I would ask only to see my children & wife, a sunrise, and the Best of Youth, before the end. I’d be ok to go then. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/23/25 Full Review Bert M I felt 6 hours was a long time for this movie which to me was good, but not great. I mean Gone with the Wind which is a classic is only 4 hours. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 10/28/22 Full Review Audience Member Together with Heimat, the best movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member I watched this movie on a whim one night when it was one Netflix. It entranced me so hard, I had to go and buy the movie and watch it over and over. Don't let the length of it scare you (a whopping 6 hours!), it more than needs that time, and you won't even notice how long it seems as you watch it. I love it, and recommend it to friends often. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member All people are the product of their own zeitgeist - their small lives universally relatable. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Marco Tullio Giordana

Director

Luigi Lo Cascio

Nicola Carati

Alessio Boni

Matteo Carati

Adriana Asti

Adriana Carati

Sonia Bergamasco

Giulia Monfalco

Fabrizio Gifuni

Carlo Tommasi

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The Best of Youth

Maya Sansa stars in Marco Tullio Giordana's THE BEST OF YOUTH. Maya Sansa stars in Marco Tullio Giordana's THE BEST OF YOUTH. Luigi Lo Cascio stars in Marco Tullio Giordana's THE BEST OF YOUTH. Jasmine Trinca stars in Marco Tullio Giordana's THE BEST OF YOUTH Alessio Boni stars in Marco Tullio Giordana's THE BEST OF YOUTH. Alessio Boni stars in Marco Tullio Giordana's THE BEST OF YOUTH. Alessio Boni stars in Marco Tullio Giordana's THE BEST OF YOUTH Marco Tullio Giordana directs a scene in THE BEST OF YOUTH Alessio Boni (left) and Luigi Lo Cascio (right) in in Marco Tullio Giordana's THE BEST OF YOUTH. (From Left to Right) Jasmine Trica, Luigi Lo Cascio and Alessio Boni star in Marco Tullio Giordana's THE BEST OF YOUTH. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Two close-knit brothers, Nicola (Luigi Lo Cascio) and Matteo (Alessio Boni), are buffeted by the social and political upheavals that rock their native Italy during the 1960s and '70s as they navigate their way into adulthood, marriage and middle age. Along the way, Nicola meets Giulia (Sonia Bergamasco), the love of his life whose political beliefs take precedence over her personal happiness, while Matteo falls for the lovely photographer-turned-librarian Mirella (Maya Sansa).
Director
Marco Tullio Giordana
Producer
Angelo Barbagallo, Donatella Botti
Screenwriter
Sandro Petraglia, Stefano Rulli
Distributor
Miramax Films
Production Co
BiBiFilm, RAI Cinema
Rating
R
Genre
Drama, Romance
Original Language
Italian
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 30, 2003, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Feb 7, 2006
Box Office (Gross USA)
$250.4K
Runtime
6h 0m
Sound Mix
Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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