Amici per la pelle

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.

"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.

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.

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.

Proof positive that there was,in the fifties, an alternative to Joselito Jimenez's soupy melodramas.

"Amici Per La Pelle" depicts a pure friendship between two teenagers ,a friendship which will endure,even,as if one user wrote,they were never to meet again.Mario is the would be tough guy sure of himself,but the last scenes show he breaks like a little boy (the writers are to be praised for not taking the easy way out).Franco is introverted,extremely sensitive ;he comes from the upper class of the society (his dad is an ambassador) but his relationship with his pal never suffers for it.True friendship knows no class,no race...Even for the father,it's only natural that his son should be taken in by his friend's family when he is away (and it must be pointed out that Mario's dad is an artist ,verging on bohemian life):the key to Franco's character is the loss of his mother ,which may explain he finds it hard to relate to girls.Now that his dear mother still lives on in his heart,he invents an imaginary girlfriend .

There's a stunning chemistry between the two young actors.

This movie had a huge influence on Luigi Comencini's later works which deal with childhood: "Cuore" ," Voltati Eugenio" and mainly ,mainly,'Incompreso" (it's no coincidence if his two young heroes are a consul's sons and their mom's dead).If you have liked "Amici Per La Pelle" ,Watch them.

NB:Geronimo Meynard's career ended with Freda's "Giuletta E Romeo "(1964) ,but time had taken its toll,and he was far from being as convincing,as moving as he is in Rossi's delicate drama.