Do we really have to watch all 6 hours?

Yes, but not at once. Think of it as a prestige limited series. It’s split into two clear 3-hour parts. Watching one part per night is the perfect way to let the story breathe without burning out.

How much nudity is there?

There are a few scenes of full-frontal nudity and several sexual encounters. It’s handled with a naturalistic, non-pornographic lens, but it’s frequent enough that you shouldn't watch it with anyone who’d make it awkward.

Is the politics hard to follow if I don't know Italian history?

Not really. The movie does a great job of explaining the stakes through the characters' emotions. You might not know the name of every political party, but you'll understand why the characters are angry or hopeful.

Is there a dubbed version?

There might be, but please don't. The performances are so rooted in the Italian language and cadence that dubbing would ruin the emotional impact. Stick to the subtitles.

The Best of Youth – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Best of Youth

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2003

92%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

An epic six-hour Italian family saga that makes every minute feel earned—think The Godfather but with more heart and fewer horse heads.

94%

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The Best of Youth

movie

R, 2003

92%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

An epic six-hour Italian family saga that makes every minute feel earned—think The Godfather but with more heart and fewer horse heads.

94%

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Screenwise Verdict

If you're looking for a 'Big Movie' experience that actually stays with you, this is it. The Best of Youth is a sprawling, six-hour commitment that somehow manages to feel intimate in every frame. It follows two brothers across forty years of Italian history, and by the end, you don't just know these characters—you feel like you've grown up with them.

Don't let the runtime scare you off. Because it was originally a miniseries, it’s perfectly paced for a two-night binge. It’s the kind of storytelling that makes modern blockbusters look like TikTok clips. It’s enriching, heartbreaking, and ultimately one of the most rewarding cinematic experiences you can have, provided you're okay with subtitles and some heavy adult themes.

Age Fit

This is strictly for older teens (16+) and adults. Between the six-hour length, the subtitles, the political nuances, and the R-rated content, it will fly right over the heads of younger kids and likely bore them to tears.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

At its core, this is a beautiful, deeply felt story about family loyalty and the bond between two brothers. It handles heavy themes like mental illness and grief with immense grace, though it doesn't shy away from the messiness of life.

Imaginative

While it's a grounded period piece, the way it weaves personal lives into the fabric of Italian history is creatively ambitious and flawlessly executed.

Safe

This is a mature European film. You'll encounter full-frontal nudity, several sex scenes, political violence (terrorism), and a very heavy subplot involving suicide and institutionalization.

Enriching

It is a masterclass in empathy and historical context. It covers everything from the 1966 Florence flood to the Red Brigades, all while teaching profound lessons about character and integrity.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Masterful character growth that follows two brothers from their idealistic youth in 1966 through the complexities of middle age in the early 2000s.
Historical immersion that makes the major events of postwar Italy feel personal and urgent rather than like a dry history lesson.
Incredible acting from a cast that makes you feel like you've actually lived a lifetime alongside them by the time the credits roll.
Emotional depth that avoids cheap sentimentality, opting instead for a rich, honest look at how people change (and how they don't).

⚠

What to Watch For

The six-hour runtime is the biggest hurdle; it was originally a TV miniseries, so it’s best watched in two or three sittings.
Nudity and sex are handled with typical European frankness—it’s not gratuitous, but it’s definitely there and not intended for younger audiences.
A central character struggles with severe mental illness, and the depiction of 1960s-era psychiatric hospitals is bleak and upsetting.
The plot involves political terrorism (the Red Brigades), including scenes of assassinations and the emotional toll of radicalization.

Conversation Starters

"Nicola and Matteo take very different paths to help people—one through medicine, one through law enforcement. Which approach felt more effective?"
"How did the political events of the 60s and 70s change the way the brothers saw their own country?"
"Matteo is a deeply tragic figure. Why do you think he struggled so much to find peace compared to Nicola?"
"The title is 'The Best of Youth.' Looking at the characters as older adults, do you think they'd agree that their youth was their best time?"

Deep Dive

The Six-Hour Reward

Calling The Best of Youth a 'movie' is technically true, but it feels more like a lived experience. Originally produced for Italian television, it arrived in U.S. theaters as a two-part event, and that’s still the best way to consume it. You have Nicola, the optimistic psychiatrist, and Matteo, the closed-off soldier/policeman. Their lives diverge after they try to rescue a girl from a psychiatric hospital, and the film uses that split to explore the next four decades of Italian life.

Why It Still Works

Released in 2003, the film hasn't aged a day because it anchors itself in human psychology rather than flashy effects or trendy editing. It’s a 'Greatest Hits' of Italian history—the Florence floods, the Fiat strikes, the murder of Aldo Moro—but it never feels like a Wikipedia entry. These events are the backdrop for weddings, funerals, and the quiet moments of a family trying to stay together while the world catches fire.

The Screenwise Take

For an intentional parent, this is the ultimate 'co-watch' with a mature high schooler or college student. It’s a gateway to discussing how personal choices intersect with political reality. It’s also a rare film that treats both the radical and the traditionalist with empathy. You’ll see the allure of revolution and the stability of the status quo, and you’ll see the cost of both. Just make sure you’ve got a comfortable couch and a good sound system; the soundtrack and the Italian dialogue are half the magic.

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