Set in 1970s Naples, bullied nine year-old Peppino is watching the world around him as his extended dysfunctional family change. Psychedelic flower power and hippie love is threatening the old traditional southern Italian family. Dad is having an affair and Mom has taken to her bed with depression. Super-mod brother and sister Titina and Salvatore take the boy under their wings, introducing him to demonstrations and love-ins, whilst caped superhero Gennaro visits Peppino even after being knocked down and killed by the number 12 bus. It is the imaginary appearances of this older superman cousin that help the nine-year-old navigate the complicated adult world.
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Reviews
Simply A Masterpiece
The acting in this movie is really good.
One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.
Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.
I enjoyed the film immensely and consider it among my favorite films of all time. The story was funny, dramatic, bittersweet and poignant. There were four generations of family characterized expertly by the writing and directing. The cinematography was beautiful and expansive with a dazzling array of long shots, closeups, pans, scenes in the morning, afternoon and evening utilizing the geography of the Napolitan coastline and city enclaves. Quite a beautiful palate and always visually interesting. The plot itself was engrossing and featured many layers of subplots involving the panopoly of characters we meet and their relationships to each other, growing up, maturing, dealing with life challenges, and all sprinkled with the spice of magic and imagination thanks to the angelic innocence of the 9 year old (quasi dieci) Peppino. What a fun journey and transporting experience into a beautiful culture and scintillating story. I enjoyed each character and marveled at how richly each of their individual worlds were explored. While employing a bit of fantasy and imagination the film never lost touch with the sense of true reality we all face each day. Hope to see this at the Oscars next year.
Unconvincing attempt to put on screen a fantasy version of growing up in Naples in the seventies - flares, David Bowie, "These Boots Are Made for Walking", Zorba Dancing and Women's Movement love-ins.Mum Golino finds dad Zingaretti (at the advantage of not being displayed in awful wigs like the rest of his family) cheating and ends up in the hands of the shrink who tells her to get an ice cream.Meanwhile her young son is being visited by the apparition of the run over cousin in a Superman costume.Despite the classy participants, bright colours and OK use of locations are the best elements.
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