Ciao bella

Colour, 35 mm
Sweden, 2007, 91 min
Section: Variety Critics’ Choice

Synopsis

Debuting helmer Mani Maserrat-Agah’s delightful romantic comedy Ciao Bella takes on Swedish attitudes toward immigrants and foreigners with a pitch-perfect story about young love, sex, ethnicity and fear of being an outsider. Like director Maserrat-Agah, protagonist Mustafa (Poyan Karimi, terrific) is a Swede born in Iran. A bright, athletic 16-year-old, he doesn’t feel totally comfortable in the world of his parents or his peers. Dumped by his blonde g.f. during pic’s opening moments, Mustafa frequently overhears casually racist remarks such as “he’s one of them.” When Mustafa travels to Gothenburg’s summer youth soccer tournament with his high school team, a clever series of events results in him playing on the Italian side. Strong playing by leads and, indeed, the entire ensemble of young actors gives the situations a realistic intensity and winning charm.