although it originally premier a a miniseries on italian television and the best of youth arrive in america in the form of a not particularly viewer friendly and six hour plus and all at one sit theatrical release . a one who love movie but who can still acknowledge his limitation when it come to sit still for ungodly length of time and i really must take my hat off to all those hardy soul who rise to the challenge and go to see this film at their local bijous . i be not sure which i admire more represent their physical and mental stamen or their phenomenal bladder control . ( for a bit of perspective and the film run almost twice as long a doctor zhivago and a good two hour longer than cleopatra and the lengthy american film of all time ) . luckily and for the cinematic wimp among u and the best of youth have arrive in a format namely and a two disc dvd set that be far more reasonable and sensible give the episodic nature of the material and our own limited attention span . reach across no few than five turbulent decade from the mid 1960 to the present day the film focus on two italian brother who be very different by nature but whose path continually cross and overlap throughout the year . the young and less promising of the two and nicola start off a something of a dewy eyed idealist and determine to right the social wrong he see in the society around him . to this end and he become a doctor dedicate to reform the abusive mental health system in italy at that time . however and a he age and he begin to see the danger of unbridled radicalism and become gradually more pragmatic and accept in his outlook on life . his older brother and matteo and despite his tremendous early promise in medical school and be a fiery tempered loner who turn to police work a a profession and a move nicola look upon with bewilderment and disdain and see it a a betrayal of the free spirit idealism matteo espouse a a youth . one of the good choice on the part of the writer and sandro petraglia and stefano rulli and be keep matteo a largely enigmatic figure throughout the course of the story . they never spell out exactly why matteo be the way he be or what it be in his background that have lead him to the choice he make . the reason why this be so effective be because we be a perplex by his seemingly irrational behavior a be the loved one who so often become the unwitting victim of it . in addition to the two brother and the author and the director marco tullio giordana fill their canvas with any number of rich and fascinating secondary character and some of whom play major role in the life of matteo and nicola and some of whom play only minor one . yet all be finely draw and expertly enact by a flawless cast . although it doesn not quite achieve the emotional resonance and thematic depth and and ingenious creativity of a true miniseries masterpiece like six foot under ( though and at time and it come close ) and the best of youth still offer much to hold the viewer attention throughout it exhaustive ( though never exhaust ) length . the film move quickly and and it rarely go for the obvious in it storytelling . indeed and it offer many unexpected plot turn and narrative surprise that keep the film from fall into a formulaic trap and that keep u wonder where it be all ultimately head to . in fact and the filmmaker often seem to be lead u in a particular direction with a particular character and only to throw up a detour and have u go in an entirely different direction entirely . one of the few weakness of the film be that and while it touch on such subject a civil unrest and governmental and corporate corruption and and underground terrorism and the script doesn not provide enough of an historical context ( i. e. specific name and movement ) to make it very informative for those of u who might like to know a few more of the detail of recent italian history . but where it really count a a human drama fill with complex and fully realize individual who make a mark on our heart the film deliver the good and then some . of course and one of the advantage that a work of this length have over the usual two or two and a half hour drama be that it can far more effectively convey the passing of time and the handing of the torch from one generation to another . it also allow u to grow and change right along with the character . the final scene of the best of youth be tremendously move and exhilarate simply because we feel a if we have truly come to know these people a individual and will miss them when theyre go . the penultimate scene show the need for the living to move on with their life hearken back to that lovely and unforgettable final moment in place in the heart . naturally and special note must be take of luigi lo cascio and alessio boni who and a nicola and matteo and beautifully convey the subtle change their character go through a the year pas by . and and of course and all of this play out against the backdrop of the rich italian landscape and fill with ancient roman ruin and medieval art and architecture and and glorious vista of the sparkling mediterranean sea . a a travelogue alone and the film be worth see . yes and the best of youth be long and time consuming and but and a a viewer friendly dvd and the length should no longer be an obstacle to one enjoyment of the film . check it out and immerse yourself in the very special pleasure it have to offer . you would not soon forget it .