Brandon Judell
But Forever In My Mind (Come Te Nessuno Mai): DVD Find of the Week
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| "But Forever in my Mind" |
By Brandon Judell
One of the more outstanding films about ungovernable teen hormones to hit the screens in the past decade, this beautifully-shot, believably-acted, soundly-written romp has taken over four years to hit the DVD shelves. Yes, it last played at the Film Forum back in December 2000, but it was clearly worth the wait.
The film begins with a quote from Abbie Hoffman, and then lands in present day Rome, where high school students are taking over their institutions of learning just as their now-uncool parents did back in the sixties. There is one problem, though. These anarchists aren't actually sure why they're revolting. As one rebellious scholar-without-a-cause grumbles, "At least my sister had the Cold War."
But our hero, Silvio (Silvio Muccino), knows precisely why he's ready to stake his life in this faddish political upheaval against the principal, the teachers, and the cops. He wants to lose his virginity. He yearns to be able to look into a mirror and see the image of a "winner" reflected back to him.
Sadly losing one's virginity isn't always that easy, especially when you're not that mature, and you keep rebuffing the one girl who's really in love with you. Also, young women do get a bit perturbed if you kiss and tell, and Silvio and all his boy pals have very loose lips.
With abundant charm and wisdom, director Muccino in a light comic style captures the silliness, the beauty, and the pain of early love, an amore that's unaided here by sibling competition, parental angst, and unsound advice from one's peers.
Winner of the Best Screenplay Award from the Brussels International Film Festival, "But Forever in My Mind" asks the question whether these kids when they're 45 will look back at their early years and not be embarrassed. The answer clearly is that they will be, but it will be a delicious embarrassment.[Judell]
Copyright © Brandon Judell 2005
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