Bianca come il latte, rossa come il sangue

Set against an Italian backdrop, Bianca come il latte, rossa come il sangue is a compelling 2013 coming-of-age drama, based on the bestselling novel by Alessandro D'Avenia. This richly layered film explores love, passion, and the struggles of adolescence. Boasting a fine trio of central performances from Filippo Scicchitano, Aurora Ruffino, and Gaia Weiss, the film serves up a heartwarming narrative that speaks to all ages.

Bianca come il latte, rossa come il sangue introduces audiences to the world of Leo (played by Filippo Scicchitano), a 16-year old high school student. As the film dives into the depths of teenage angst and uncertainties, Leo's ordinary life is presented in shades of grey. Juggling typical pursuits like fiddling with his moped and playing soccer, Leo's existence is turned on its head when he witnesses the irresistible Bianca (Gaia Weiss) whose vivacity and blonde hair is a symbol of pure light in his grey monotonous world. Entranced by her beauty, Leo's heart leaps to his throat, and a passionate infatuation is born.

However, Bianca appears to be an unreachable star in Leo's grey universe due to her relationship with a much older man. Plus, Leo's best friend, Niko, offers him unperturbed camaraderie but is often incapable of assisting Leo in navigating these new feverous depths of sentiment. Leo's fascination and feelings for Bianca become the catalyst for a compelling narrative that intersects teenage dreams and deep-seated longing.

Punctuating Leo's tumultuous journey are his interactions with the challenging figure of Professor Strasser, played by Luca Argentero. Strasser urges his students, including Leo, to find the courage to break their personal walls and embrace discomfort in order to live life fully. These intense talks on literature and life give moments of philosophical depth to the film, oscillating between ardent need and the bitter taste of despair. These interactions are so profound that they eventually become unavoidable prods, forcing Leo to face his vivid dream and explore the question of whether Bianca would be the sun in his life or his heart's cataclysm.

Parallel to Leo's unrequited love is a charming subplot involving the friendly but enigmatic Sylvia (Aurora Ruffino), who showers Leo with music CDs and emotional support, signifying her crush on him. Aurora Ruffino's performance capably highlights the delicate emotions of unvoiced affection in Sylvia.

Cleverly moving between real life and illustrated animations mirroring Leo's mental and emotional state, Director, Giacomo Campiotti, creates a compelling narrative diary of youthful passion. The visual elements provide a fantastic metaphor for Leo's emotional storm, reinforcing the visual theme of the film: passion is as red as blood, innocence as white as milk.

The film’s score gives it another dimension, escalating the powerful emotions of certain scenes. This becomes even more evident in moments of silence when almost anything becomes a symbol of unfulfilled love, as Leo descends into what feels like an inescapable labyrinth of feelings. The beautiful soundtrack, featuring songs by Italian rock band Negramaro, adds another emotional punch to this dramatic film.

Bianca come il latte, rossa come il sangue merges the inexplicable dynamics of love, friendship, growth, and teenage woes in a novelistic yet cinematically dazzling style. It captures the pristine nature of first love that ignites an insatiable longing so overwhelming that one feels on the brink of existence. It’s an exploration of contrast: love and indifference, courage and fear, youth and maturity, dreams and reality.

In its essence, this is a film about love and identity. It suggests the difficulty of understanding someone until you’ve truly seen the world through their eyes, hinting that love is always about more than physical attraction- it's about empathy, understanding, and connection. Bianca come il latte, rossa come il sangue is more than just a simplistic high school drama. It's an emotionally rich exploration of adolescence, a poignant tale about the awkward journey of growing up and finding one's place in the world. The film is sure to linger in the viewer's memory long after its conclusion due to its introspective narrative and beautiful performances. This is a movie that will make you think, but above all, it's a movie that will make you feel.