Me and You

Huh. I guess this is one of those films that I probably like more than a lot of others (at least those who have seen Me and You outside of the US, here it never got an official release after a very limited run in NYC in 2014 I missed). Bertolucci, in his mastery with an eye that feels alive without being outlandish, manages to convey that extremely intense, sometimes confused, always passionate, vulnerable, stupid, immature sense of one's self and the world around when one is at 14 years old. Maybe it is just from my time as a dipshit loner 14 year old, certainly not always in agreement with my parental units, who felt most at peace - or actually in unrest but at least it can be an escape inside - witp rock music and a pair of headphones (I didnt have the ant-farm though, or the Armadillo, poor little guy hope he or she wad OK, I digress). Or maybe it's the honest, definitely uncomfortable, almost pathological depiction of a love-hate bond with a sibling who can seem so bright and wise one moment and is a furnace of bile the next (the addiction and withdrawal, like a quarter of this film is a young lady withdrawing cold turkey and Tea Falco is committed to a 1000% and God bless her for it). The film is limited by being set largely in a basement, but again the camerawork is always curious and active and definitely on edge, like you can feel through the lens choices there's unbridled hormones and a love for 80s and 90s rock glowing through it all, and while I don't know if I'd call Olmo Antinori as profound a performer as Bertolucci has had in his career that's also a tall order to reach up to. For what he's asked to do here, which is to play an angry introvert who doesn't know what to do with himself and slowly comes out of his angst-addled and probably OCD packed shell, he commits to the bit and is compelling. I can get why some seem to be annoyed by his acting (or in part the character himself) since he is yelling a lot and acting out, but I found a strange empathy with him despite (or partly because) of the small scale yet still extremes of the premise of the story; it's about being okay with the troubles that go through your mind every day, especially if it's not all that complicated (he seems to live a fairly decent middle class upbringing), and sometimes an outside perspective is the only way to change. I don't know if Lorenzo changes by the time we get that 400 Blows inspired final freeze frame, though I don't think Bertolucci means to suggest he is in as much despair as Antoine Doinel. On the contrary, he seems to have more of a look like (can't believe this just popped in my head) Peter Parker in Spider-Man 2 at the end of the "Raindrops" montage. What will worry him now? He's gone through a helluva week he didn't expect to have with his half sister - and for the record, no incest, in case you were wondering considering some of the director's past work (from Before the Revolution to the Dreamers), he and I assume the author of the book are after a more fundamental exploration of a sibling push and pull than that reduction - and he's come out the other end understanding himself better. Maybe. Or at least her. And that life is not going to get much easier so time to "grow up." If the film does get so anxious like its character a couple of times, it helps that it all comes together in the last twenty minutes or so. Not a great final film, but a good one and I'm glad I finally got to see it and be one of maybe dozens I tell you dozens of voices that say it's worth a look, especially if you've gone so far into Bertolucci's body of work that just a couple of the obscurities are left. And now I'm in the mood for some Red Hot Chili Peppers!

An enjoyable movie despite or maybe even because of its odd story line. Lorenzo, 14 years old, is not willing to play his role according to the outside world expectations, which are quite in mismatch to his own interests and phantasies. He only pretends to join the school ski trip to the Italian Alps to comfort his mother but instead he plans to spend the whole week in the basement of the condominium in Rome where he lives. There he wants to do his thing, which is reading books, listening to music and observing an ant colony. No sooner said than done. Everything seems to work out fine if it was not for his 10 years older half sister Olivia who pops up surprisingly. She is looking in the basement for something valuable in her old belongings and needs a place to sleep over. Only reluctantly, Lorenzo opens up his shelter to her only to find out that she is a junkie on detoxification. This is the beginning of a great intimate play between the two half siblings, who hardly know each other. Their conversations in the semi-darkness feel very close to reality and it is quite enjoyable to watch how they slowly start to appreciate each other while arguing and going through some hardships. In confrontation the two outsiders manage to be supportive by holding up a mirror to each other. It must be credited to the acting performances of the two main protagonists that this comes across so convincingly. A certain erotic tension and a good soundtrack also add up to the quality of Bertolucci's late work. Have you ever wanted to listen to the Italian version of Bowie's Space Oddity? No? Here you can fulfill a desire you have never had ;). It is still worthwhile. The end of the movie is quite unpretentious. After the week of the school ski trip has elapsed Lorenzo and Olivia leave their chosen prison and say good bye to each other on the street. Will they stick to the promises they have given each other? The film proposes that doubts are justified.

Lorenzo, a 14 year old boy, pretends to embark on a school trip to a ski resort and takes refuge in the basement of his building. When his step sister suddenly appears, the experience of both will become unforgettable. The last feature film by Bernardo Bertolucci, the director who gave us The Last Emperor and The Last Tango in Paris. It's essentially a film about the social pressure that teens are facing nowadays, and how they deal with this problem (Bertolucci was already 73 years old, the topic was a bit risky for him), and the final result is an ok film, but far from being memorable. The story lacks on the characters background, but it does have what it takes to keep it from being tedious, thanks to the performances of Jacopo Antinori and Tea Falco. The fact that only scratchs the surface of the issues and problems of the characters makes it difficult to connect with them.

Bernarod Bertolucci's final film feels more like the movie of a younger director: it's protagonists are youthful, the budget is low and there are few special effects or tricks, the story is simple and not overcooked. But I liked this tale of a shy teenager who camps out in a basement when supposed to be going ski-ing, and who gets a shock when his troubled sister turns up. Parts of what follows are a little cliched, but the basic feel of the film imparts a sense of honesty and genuineness. I liked it a lot, although it's a long way from 'The Last Emperor' or 'Last Tango in Paris'.

I felt like not much happens, it didn't feel like it was going anywhere. I liked the scenes at the end where the relationship between Olivia and the guy evolve. It was really, but at the same time, idk it felt incestuous. If it was only for them being somewhat physically close (they hug and dance together) i wouldn't think much, but him asking his mother at the beginning of the movie if she'd have intercourse with him if they were the last humans on earth made me really uncomfortable. He also later look at Olivia, his step sister with a magnifying glass, and he specifically looks at her lips. Those two moments didn't bring anything to the movie, so I'm really wondering if it's just me overthinking. And other from that, yeah, I think the plot is really interesting but it wasn't taken advantage of, and instead was pretty plain. However, the songs were really cool, the scene where they dance with ragazzo solo ragazza sola was amazing, really emotional, if i had to rate this scene, I'd give it a 10/10.

Briefly: how to spoil the whole movie with one scene. In fact, we had to be prepared that he would shove here too something typical for him. With reason of/for.. Why? Thank for the fact that at least the film lasted only an hour and a half In addition to the "unnatural" kiss, then half of the film was waiting for someone to screw up in the shower or somewhere else and at least some "action", some "drama", would be brought into the film. "Cigarettes".. Which were quietly returned to the owner? What author want to say??? As a result, what conclusion should we draw at the end.. Not clear. The movie for the sake of movie.

Me and You (Io et Te): Bertolucci's last film, while it may seem insubstantial the touch of a master is still there. Most of the action occurs in a basement - an introverted 14 year old, Lorenzo (Jacopo Olmo Antinori) , pretends to go on a school ski trip but hides in his apartment building's cellar. Then his 25 year old half-sister Olivia (Tea Falco) arrives, having nowhere to stay, she doesn't get on with her stepmother. They hang out together in a storeroom containing the contents of the apartment's previous owner, a Russian Countess.Problems pile up as Olivia is a heroin addict trying to go cold turkey. A touching film which offers hop for the futures of both of the protagonists ( great performances by Falco and Antinori) but certain threats remain. Directed and Co-Written by Bernardo Bertolucci. 8/10.

From one of my favourite Italian director, Bernardo Bertolucci. Everyone must appreciate his passion towards film making. While lying in a wheelchair, he accomplished the desire of his fans than trying to do for fame or break the record. After a long gap, nearly a decade later he came up with this simple but wonderful heartwarming drama about a teenager boy. It was a great comeback for the southern living legend. 'Me and you' was based on a novel which centers around 15 year-old loner, Lorenzo. To escape the associate with others he fakes his ski trip and hid in his house's basement for a week long. Soon after his half sister, Olivia, finds out who is a junkie, later she joins him. They are mismatched half siblings who never met before. During the stay they come to know each other very well leaving all the family grudges away. The first step for Lorenzo to learn to mingle with others is with his half sister and for Olivia, her half brother helps to free from the drug addict. After a week they come into the real world like a newborn butterfly from the chrysalis leaving the past behind. It was a sweet little cast movie which most of the movie takes place in the basement. I did not get it why there's lots of dislikes of this movie. There are many things in the story to understand, you won't require a close observation to get it. I am totally surprised, is critics are that fool for not getting the movie right. Like I always say ignore the critics and decide yourself. For me it was a cute movie which made me to understand a slice of life. Bernardo Bertolucci did all kinda experiment in his movie characters and relationship. When I saw this movie poster for the first time I thought it could be portrayal of some teenager's sexual experience like the movie 'The Reader'. But I was wrong, 'Me and you' went beyond I anticipated and became a meaningful tale of the two young people. I know the movie won't entirely satisfy for one because of a subject that won't explore in deeper, I mean in detail. But worth mentioning the performances by the lead two as well the direction of Bernardo Bertolucci Next time we hope he will make two times better than this, maybe another masterpiece. 7.5/10

his mark defines each scene. but different by your expectations. because it has the virtue to be more than a version of others films by him. because it is not exactly a manifesto or example of fall of rules, or demonstration of sensuality. in a special sense, it is a poem. about solitude, about words, about evolution of a meet and about the reflection of the other in yourself. a boy, a girl and a basement. confessions , memories and a link who is defined by different changes. and a form of tenderness who escapes from ordinaries definitions. because nothing provocative or strange or eccentric is present. so, a special film. or, maybe, a different Bertolucci.

I like it. it is not a revelation/surprise/piece from Bertolucci chain. it is only a common story about family, about a meeting and refuges. and nothing more. a delicate picture about small significant things. interesting young actors and waters of a special atmosphere. realistic, gray, circle of nuances, seductive and almost real beautiful, it is a mixture of ordinary life crumbs and a strange poem. a teenager and his sister. dialogs, feelings, silences. and a Bertolucci after experiments, storms, scandal. because, after an extraordinary trip, it is time for reflection. a film like a box with surprises. first - Jacopo Olmo Antinori in a promising role. then - Tea Falco. so, it is not a bad idea to see it ! not for director or for cast. but for a meeting with art to transform in movie few common pieces from common life.