It's just the kind of movie I love, simple and unpretentious. This one made no flashy promises in the beginning. It's a story about a village and in particular the relationship between an old man and a little boy and how the relationship grows and goes on to shape the little boy's destiny. The movie takes one back to the 1950's in a small village in Italy, a time when life was simple, everyone in town knew everyone else, when people walked to most places in town or used bicycles, when children played in the street in the evenings or sometimes during the day when they played truant from school. A time when children were mischievous, when there were only 20-30 odd children in one class so that they all knew each other and grew up with each other. There is much more to that time than just these facets.
The thing that struck me most about the movie was the simplicity with which such a wide range of human experiences and emotions is depicted. There is the naughty six year old Toto who just can't help getting into trouble. With him, one experiences the small joys of childhood, the random crap that children collect and that is so precious to them - everything from negatives of photographs to weird shaped stones - and the extreme curiosity in all things new. With the adolescent Salvatore, one experiences the agony of being in unrequited love, the power of a first crush, the intensity of emotion and the silent endurance of a heart full of hope.
The relationship between Alfredo and Toto was inexplicably heartwarming. An old man who spent all his life in the same village doing the same job eventually convinces the small boy to go follow his dreams elsewhere. It brought a certain question to mind. Nowadays, with people moving around so much, I hear a lot of talk about losing touch with ones roots. I understand the importance of roots too. But what was depicted in the movie really made me think what we mean when we say the word "roots". People change and so do places, what gets left behind are the ghosts of memories past. Most people feel nostalgic about their past, thus resulting in an innate desire to go back to where we started from, at some time in life or the other. But they forget to discount for the fact that you cannot go back in time and hence going "back to one's roots" is literally impossible in that sense. In this context I can think of the feelings one experiences when you visit your alma mater after leaving. Yes, there are always memories associated with the place, certain places that mean something but most of all, our experiences are connected to people who mostly move on when you do. Hence I understand the joy at encountering an old lab worker in college or a professor who is still there, years after you left. But I also wonder if that void that one feels when you look at a new set of people living YOUR life and doing things that YOU used to do can ever be filled and if there ever can be a feeling of complete reunion with one's roots. Just a random thought...
I loved little Toto, brilliant acting, great character. It brought back so many memories from my own childhood. I love movies that are made about simple, unassuming souls in some small part of the world. It celebrates the fact that even the least important of human beings in the world (if your stature and notoriety in the world is a proxy for importance) has a story of his own, goes through ups and downs that, when viewed through his eyes, are very significant events. This movie celebrates life, at least that's what I felt after watching it. Yes, there is some sadness, sometimes related to the choices we make in life and the course our life takes based on those choices. But one should still be able to enjoy the mixed bag of experiences that life brings to us 'coz I believe that is the only things that define who we are.
I recommend this movie for everyone who wants to escape the complexities of life for a while, to forget about the next promotion or project, and to just sit back and let the joys of life wash over you!
