But Forever in My Mind

Synopsis

Silvio has clear ideas. He knows what's really important in life. He is sixteen and in the last three days he has understood everything there is to understand. Everything begins with news of new student unrest ...

Day 1 - Silvio and Ponzi are friends and classmates at a Rome high school. They aren't model students by any means. They decide to join a student collective to decide whether to occupy the school again.
The smoke-filled classroom is packed with students. They talk of politics using emphatic language and anachronistic slogans. Silvio and Ponzi are looking for the prettiest girls at the meeting. For Leon, the Leader of the student committee, the key issues are the `privatisation of education' and the `standardisation of consciousness'. For Silvio and Ponzi it is to find girls and make an impression on them. That night they lie down and Look at the stars with other friends and talk things over. Martino is the luckiest and most envied of all, because he is going out and even going to bed with Valentina. It's from him that the others learn all the details of the dream they are chasing all the time.

Day 2 - At last, the school is occupied. The students break down the barricades ordered by the headmaster. Shouting out their battle cries they spread into all the classrooms. Silvio finds himself with Valentina . They tun hand in hand and end up in a dusty storeroom. They are alone. Silvio is reluctant because Valentina is Martino's girlfriend but, in the end the irreparable happens and they kiss.
It's a secret. They've got to keep it, sure, but Ponzi at least can know about it. He Ponzi won't teil anyone, guaranteed.
It would be wrong to go round revealing Silvio's secret. It wouldn't be fair on Silvio. But at least Filippo has to be told about it
A few hours later the whole school knows the secret. Including Martino. He is furious and decides to get his revenge. Claudia, Valentina' s best friend, who is secretly in love with Silvio, also finds out.
In the meantime, Silvio's parents aren't happy about the fact that the school has been occupied for the third year in a row. They threaten to transfer him to a different school for Silvio's sister, Chiara, a girl guide and a model daughter, it's all one big laugh. His parents refuse to let Silvio go to sleep in the occupied school building, where he was hoping to get together with Valentina again.
Silvio rebels and goes to see Alberto, his elder brother and mentor.

Day 3 - Despite police threats to evacuate the building, the students are more adamant than ever that they want to go ahead with the occupation. Valentina is now convinced that Silvio is just as childish as Martino. In fact, she's already found a new boyfriend. Her friend Giulia persuades Claudia to tell Silvio she is in love with him.
Silvio runs away from home to face up to his responsibilities at the school.
The police charge and the students throw eggs in retaliation. The police eventually manage to break into the school, dispersing the protesters and returning the building to the headmaster. The students scatter off in all directions. Some are stopped and taken to the police station, others get off scot-free. Silvio and Claudia, manage to escape on a scooter. When they are out of bother Claudia teils Silvio what she has to say. Then they both go home.
Silvio's mother is worried about her son's recent behaviour. She insists that he has to go to see a psychoanalyst. Silvio refuses categorically. His brother and, unexpectedly, his sister back him up. At his brother's suggestion, he runs away to Claudia's house.
The new meeting dispels any doubts. The two youngsters meet and get on spontaneously together. They end up making love on the balcony.
Silvio has clear ideas. He knows what's really important in life. He is sixteen and in the last three days he has understood everything there is to understand. He now knows that love counts more than anything else.

Biography

Gabriele Muccino was born in Rome on 20 May 1967. After leaving the T. Mamiani classical grammar school, he enrolled in the Film and Theatre course at the faculty of letters of the La Sapienza University in Rome.

After sitting a few exams, he had the opportunity to work as voluntary assistant director for Pupi Avati, and in advertising with Fabrizio Costa.

He then left university and pursued his dream of becoming a film director.

In 1991 he made three shorts, which were broadcast by Raidue in three separate episodes of MIXER.
In the same year, he attended Leo Benevenuti's screenwriting courses at ANASC and enrolled on the direction course at the Experimental Film Centre in Rome.

Over the next four years, he made 30 brief docu-fiction films for 'Ultimo minuto' (Raitre), and directed the short IO E GIULIA with Stefania Rocca, produced by the 'Mixer Giovani' structure.

In 1996 he travelled to Africa and Patagonia to direct eight documentaries for the Professione Natura' wildlife programme (Raitre).

He then wrote and directed another short entitled MAX SUONA IL PIANO, as well as one of the episodes for the film INTOLERANTE.

In 1997, he directed his first full-length film THAT'S IT, produced by Domenico Procacci. The film was presented at the 1998 Turin Film Festival and won nominations for best debut film at the Nastri D'Argento (Italian Cinema Press), David di Donatello and Globo D'Oro (Foreign Press).

His second film COME TE NESSUNO MAI was shot in Rome in February/March 1999.