i be reluctant to go to see this film and because of it length 6 hour . do i have to sacrifice a whole my day off for one film . but i go anyway a i be so curious about the hype from review around this unusual film . and result be and there be nothing hype about this and it live with it hype and more that the that . this film turn out to be a masterpiece and to be remember forever in movie history and be rank with film like godfather and seven samurai what a wonderful life shawshank redemption etc . what a magnificent film . where can i begin . the story . the story draw both destiny of troubled italy and ordinary middle class italian family and both macro and micro story be combine seamless and you will experience and get thorough the turbulence time of italy and the family from 1960s 2003. all main actor be top class and act so naturally from their early unresponsively 20 student time to bitter or sweet grey hair late mid age time without false note . particualry maya sansa and i think the star be bear here ( her another recent film and good morning and night be another evidence ) . i haven not see an actress with such a presence and ability in last few year . needless to say about the lead role and luigi lo cascio and alessio boni and both show such a true resonance of all the emotion . also and it nice to know 70 italian movie icon and adriana asti still keep that elegance . the great thing be the director sympathetic eye to all the character . most of character be give real three dimension character in the course of 40 year time in this film and all of them have their own life and problem . each character come with such a detail and depth and you will feel like they be your real family at the end of the film . the length of this film seem weakness of it and but actually strong point lay in there . because of the length and you be able to feel the passage of 30 year of time in the film and and you can feel character so close and it grow in you during the film . towards the end of the film and you may do not want to say good bye to them and do not want film to finish . like all the masterpiece i mention above and this film come with some memorable scene ( warn spoiler ) matteo jump from window it so abrupt but still make sense and it so realistic his face be painful before and such a quiet pain he show that night without any big speech . nicola and mirella walking in the forest and matteo appear and touch them . i never cry that much in the cinema . not like hollywood film and this scene doesn not come with any sentimental big music or emotional speech ( actually it speechless ) and it very subtle and still so strongly move . giulia meet sarah at church after she release and and sarah ask giulia to play church organ . ( spoiler end ) actually and if you do not want show your friend or family your cry or sob face and you should avoid this film all the cost and it that moving and so powerful . conclusion true gem and masterpiece . best film i have even see last 5 year . if you love movie and you can not miss this film . your 6 hour will be more that reward . 1 negative .