The Best of Youth (La Meglio Gioventu) is a six-hour long Italian film directed by Marco Tullio Giordana. The film is divided into two parts, each running for approximately three hours. The story follows the lives of two brothers, Nicola and Matteo Carati, from their youth in the 1960s until the present day.
The film starts with Nicola and Matteo as university students. Nicola, the older brother, is studious and serious while Matteo is carefree and flirtatious. The brothers' paths soon diverge, with Nicola becoming a doctor and Matteo dropping out of university to become a police officer. The two brothers stay connected through the years, though they sometimes have very different worldviews.
The Best of Youth touches on many significant events in modern Italian history. In the 1960s, Nicola and Matteo are involved in left-wing political movements. Later on, they become involved in anti-Mafia activities in southern Italy. Italy's involvement in the Balkan War and eventual participation in the Iraq War are also explored in the film.
Along the way, Nicola and Matteo meet and fall in love with several women. The film explores their relationships and their struggles with family and mental health issues.
The Best of Youth has been praised for its ambitious scope and its nuanced portrayal of Italian history and society. The film was originally made as a television miniseries in 2003 and was later released as a theatrical film. It has won numerous awards and has been praised by critics all over the world.
