Review of Me & You (2014) by Anthony L — 28 Sep 2013

At CIFF, I was informed that Bernardo Bertolucci directed this film in a wheelchair. As if the direction job wasn't hard enough, he had to do it with limited mobility. After nine years of inactivity, Bertolucci comes back with an honest, gripping look into the complications of family, and really, the dangers of drug addiction.

Although it's a rather short look (103 minutes), Bertolucci loads the runtime with plenty of scenarios, never losing the attention of the audience. Would I have wanted this film to be a bit longer ? I would've loved to see what happens after that semi-ambiguous ending.

Made from a very small budget, Bertolucci keeps the film predominantly within one setting, a basement where a 14 year old boy, and his stepsister spend a week. Does it reach the grandiose level that Bertolucci reached with "The Last Emperor" or "Last Tango in Paris?" Not a chance, but the thing is, I wasn't expecting it to be nearly as big as those movies.

It's a bittersweet drama about growing up, and change; the metamorphosis of teenagers into adults. It's not a perfect film, by far, that's for sure, but it dwells into the emotions of the characters enough to get the viewer attached, and hooked onto the story.

I saw somewhere, where someone said the characters aren't engaging. I'd have to disagree with that statement, because I was involved with these characters. I felt the guilt, the pain, the anguish: everything.

This film is a character piece, and without engaging characters, it would be a near disaster for Bertolucci. The acting is magnificent, from, really, only two actors/actresses. The plot is simplistic, but doesn't fail to keep you engaged.