Italy's turbulent politics during the 1960s are the catalyst for this coming-of-age drama from Daniele Luchetti. Two endlessly sparring teen-age brothers from a rundown town initially chose different paths, seeking to better themselves and their fellow countrymen. The elder brother, the playboy Manrico (Riccardo Scamarcio), heads straight for the factory and to communism. The prickly Accio (Elio Germano) initially pledges devotion to the fascists, until the politics get personal. Street actions and student protests (including a Marxist version of Beethoven's Ninth) ensue, but a growing dissatisfaction with working within any system foretell impending crisis. Foreknowledge of Italy's history is probably useful for appreciating small details, but in some respects, the best parts of this otherwise hackneyed story are universal: Accio's frustrated struggle to overcome the golden light shed by his older brother. In Italian, with subtitles. Regent Square (AH) [capsule review]
