Amici per la pelle

I saw this film around 1957 in London and the memory has always stayed with me. Even now I can recall the music! See it if you can, unless you are one of those people who thought that "Wild Strawberries" was a tedious bore.

"Franco" (Andrea Sciré) is the son of a diplomat and is quite well educated and worldly when he arrives at his new school where he quickly befriends "Mario" (Geronimo Meynier). The fact that he lives in an exclusive hotel causes a little consternation with his new friend's family at the beginning, but pretty soon the two boys are inseparable and getting up to all sorts of mischief. Then they hit an unexpected bump in the road that sees them both in the same running competition - and of course, only one of them can win. What now ensures is something that I think we can all relate to. The complexities of maintaining an intensive friendship - it's almost like an addiction, and the two young actors here really do immerse themselves in the roles and offer us an amiably engaging look at a friendship tempered with some stupidity and soft-headedness. Fortunately the adult characters are pretty much on board here, and are also adept at leaving their sons to solve their own problems whilst offering a shoulder and some words of wisdom as required. It also shines a light on the behaviour of classmates who, with varying degrees of nastiness, are envious of something they aren't part of. They see the boy's relationship as something to be torn down rather than celebrated when the first sign of a crack emerges. It can be quite funny and is really an enjoyably paced and jauntily scored celebration of a simple friendship that we all hope endures in the end.

Films about children are often either strictly for children (and therefore rarely made to a high standard) or are unrealistic in their character portrayal (often showing children to be too coy or more wise-cracking than is natural). Not this film whose Italian title "Amici per la pelle" translates roughly as "Friends for life".

Fourteen year-old Franco (Andrea Scire'), the son of a diplomat and orphaned of mother arrives at a new city to live. Being the son of a diplomat, and having to move from city to city frequently is clearly disruptive for shy Franco as he needs to forge new friendships again. Arriving at his new school he is keen to impress the other children in the hope of making new friendships. He forges a friendship with schoolmate Mario (Geronimo Meynier) and Franco feels compelled to invent stories about himself to keep Mario's friendship. But this friendship is sorely tested when envy and competitiveness come between them. Will their friendship survive?

This is a beautifully made film by director Franco Rossi whose subsequent career never hit the heights of this sensitive and well-handled film. The children actors are all marvelous, the dialogue is pitched at the right age group of the children which adds to the realism. But it not just a film for children, as it can be appreciated by adults due to its mature themes of loyalty and friendship.

This is the story of the friendship of two Italian schoolboys, admirably played by Geronimo Maynier(Mario) and Andrea Scire(Franco). Mario is a lively extrovert from a happy home, Franco is a lonely, more introverted boy who moves from hotel to hotel with his diplomat father. In a series of incidents at their homes and at school we see a happy friendship develop. There follows a rift in the friendship and finally there is a parting. The film is brilliantly directed by Franco Rossi. I first saw the film back in the 1950's and was very moved by it. I do not know if it has been issued on Video or DVD- it certainly should be for it deals in a simple and unmelodramatic way with the strong emotions of adolescent friendships as we have seen more recently in films like "Stand By Me".

This tale of the friendship between two boys of different background and character is funny as well as touching. It is a very intelligent entertaining story about the importance of love, trust, understanding and laughter. Set in Rome it shows how big events as well as small things can influence a relationship - a friendship that will last a lifetime, even if the two boys might never meet again.