Cannes. My Brother is An Only Child.

"The Italian Un Certain Regard title and local boxoffice hit Mio fratello è figlio unico (My Brother is An Only Child [site]) is a fun panoramic snapshot of politically engaged Italian youngsters in the 1960s and 70s that is not only a portrait of its time but also, be it in diluted form, of the Italian youth of today," writes Boyd van Hoeij at european-films.net.

"Scripted by The Best of Youth duo who brought the post-WWII years into stark and moving light, pic offers a warm humor that illuminates the defiant vista of hope even when the proceedings turn tragic," notes Variety's Jay Weissberg.

In comparison with Youth, "this is a glossier, more audience-friendly affair, that is as concerned with Accio's [Elio Germano] coy crush on the beguiling Francesca [Diane Fleri] as it is with changing political times," writes Ed Lawrenson for Time Out. "There are plenty of broad-brush but effective jokes at the expense of Accio and Manrico's fanaticism - the Communist version of Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' sung at a student rally is a hilarious send-up of 70s political correctness. But it's in the relationship between the two siblings - warm, poignant, beautifully played by Germano and Scamarcio - that the film impresses."

Camillo de Marco interviews director Daniele Luchetti for Cineuropa.

Posted by dwhudson at May 25, 2007 2:02 PM