User Reviews

A very well written, heartbreaking, yet amusing, romantic 'dramedy', "Habibi,amor..",tells with very uncommon, nostalgic,and, ironic feelings, but also a very serious story, about a group of ex 1968's European students and protesters,all linked by the tempestuous political movements of the 1960's,and,'changed' by their even harder personal situations, mainly occurred during 3 distinct episodes:the well known facts in dreamy Paris,France of that, now far, May 1968, then, the much more excruciating events and erotic developments of the "hot Roman Fall" of 1968, and,lastly,those incandescent, and, murderous, Brussels' attacks,during the long, cold Winter of 1970, all of them, shown briefly, with very elegant,and, poignant reveals: a series of quick flashback's,into the past, inter cutting, within the first half of the film. The 6 friends have the chance to rethink their lives, when, all of a sudden, the adolescent, and, gorgeous son of Stefania goes missing!The only one of the group of former friends, who has never been able to settle down. The boy has gotten trapped, by a mysterious girl, into a very dangerous drug and prostitution's racket, admitting to still having contacts with one of Italy's most strong and randomly violent associations protesting against consumerism and colonialism,which the 6 friends had fought for! They all had felt for each other and for those changes they so wanted, even though they now feel as they failed, even cheated a chance, they might have had to change the World, The story unravels, also quickly showing (always in flashback's,of course), how, after having fought,so harshly, over the tough decisions to take on whether to keep their protests to an intellectual,more pacifistic extent,or to go for weapons.That increasing sense of doubt and the amount of dissenting perspectives was in fact what definitely tear them apart and brought them back to their usual existences, finally accepting what life had in for them, while reconciling with their families,too. The only one, who's never gave up, Stefania, a lower class, yet, clever and extremely pretty Italian girl, who gave birth to the boy had then also became the object of affection, of everyone in the group, since,Stefania always had refused to reveal the identity of the father.And,of course, it is still the boy, who's always had the tougher moments: at such a young age, he had to deal with many discoveries, sadly coming to experience on his very own skin, the sudden lack of attentions he'd been given initially by all the friends, then having to grow up without any support or real value, coping with the bizarre world, his mother had decided to embrace: surviving in Rome, acting (her own only other real interest in life)in some "Avant-garde" traveling Company, When it's known that the boy, now 15 has been seen in Paris then in Morocco, after the Interpol has found proof of the child's seriously endangered position,and, he's truly believed to be used for prostitution,and, as a cover up, for perilous drug deals, Stefania's 5 ex-friends, immediately, all leave their businesses, and perplexed families, to get back together in Rome to make a plan, with the help of some 'old' acquaintances, putting aside any personal resentment they then all leave to Morocco, trying to put everything behind, finding again that 'spirit',that love and communion,they had so deeply shared together,back in the 1960's. But, not everything goes as expected! After a few comedic, if pathetic failed attempts to be together in order to find Simon, the Habibi, the little Jesus, of their protests, we are to be introduced to a much bitter revelation,an unexpected tragic moment that will empower all the distraught friends, now finally grown up adults, able to see how impossible is to change some fatal life's choices. Nothing's been forgotten, and, there's an even harder price to pay for any mistake made. It will be just the boy to reveal a mature depth and awareness, who will give them a moral lesson, something they won't be able to easily forget, this time around, even when back in the usual comfort of their homes, they'll have now to live facing their unresolved present, with a never fully disclosed, but, so finely suggested result, ironically representing what they were able to 'achieve', by denying so selfishly, who they were, to accept to live as their families(the Society) wanted for them and thought best! A powerful, moving, beautifully photographed drama, rich of great characterizations and great dialog, wonderful exteriors work, and a sublime characters study.