L'amico ritrovato

I just saw this movie again for the first time since its release, and the memories I had were confirmed both in good and bad. Jerry Schatzberg is best remembered for "the Panic in Needle Park" and "the Scarecrow", two sensitive and hyperrealistic drama classics about the America of the 1970's. But this movie belongs to the Holocaust centered genre that thrived around 1990, and most of it has a very European feel.

It's likely that Schatzberg has been inspired by Louis Malle's "Goodbye Children" made two years earlier, as the plot and the atmosphere have much in common. There are two elements that stand out. The first is the thorough reconstruction of the everyday life in Germany at the time of Hitler's takeover. And the second is the subtle depiction of the friendship between two college boys in a tense and stiff environment. You get immediately captivated, and the two young actors deliver flawless performances. The soundtrack is an earworm and the gym class scene is a highlight.

However this is all in the flashback part, and there seems to be two movies interwoven, each of very unequal quality. By comparison, the parts involving Jason Robards are lacklustre and feel very off key with the rest. His performance gives an unpleasant impression, out of touch with the teenage character he impersonates as an old man. The excellence of the central narrative makes the movie still worth watching, but it is a pity that the whole was spoiled by this discrepancy. .

This movie involves around two male teenagers. They spend most of their time together. They barely interact with any other classmates. It is a sweet boyhood friendship movie, but is it also hinting at a homosexual relationship? There are so many other classmates that the newcomer could have picked, he picked this particular one.

Generally speaking, this is a good movie. You won't even notice when it comes to an end. It seems to be so sudden.

Every time I talk about or remember this movie, I feel very touched and emotional. It made a tremendous impression upon me. I consider the acting extremely well done. The characters were very convincing. I found it an exercise with dealing with prejudice. For anybody who has had close friendships in their adolescent, I would recommend this film.

I saw the film only once, way back in 1989 when it came out in Europe. I was very touched than: the film, its characters, colors, landscapes and music echoed in my head and heart for a long time after, although I remember beeing under heavy private and professional pressure at the time.

Those echos never stopped to come up, and two weeks ago, after a long night with some friends discussing films, directors and so forth, Jerry Schatzberg's name came up, and I could not withstand to recount my experience with REUNION. The day after I rented the film: believe me, after 15 years it had almost the same effect on me. "Almost" because after 15 years I have changed...

I'd hope more people would make films like that, not only plotwise: Schatzberg's craftsmanship and art of storytelling makes him one of the finest artists of his kind.

P.S.: If in this review I would rather not talk about the plot, characters or other details, this is because I don't want to spoil your viewing pleasure. If a review makes you curious, go rent the film: you will not be disappointed...

Robards delivers a wonderful performance as an aging Jewish man who was sent away from Germany aged 16 in 1932 by his parents, for his own safety. He'd befriended a high-born non-Jewish boy his age prior to his departure. He returns to Germany to find out what happened to his friend. The ending is surprising and very deeply moving as a result of the significant, lengthy, and gratifying cinematic demonstration of their growing friendship as boys.