MovieChat Forums > La meglio gioventù (2003) Discussion > Matteo's Boots - SPOILERS

Matteo's Boots - SPOILERS

posted 20 years ago by smarr
34 replies | jump to latest

I had a real sense of dread for Matteo through most of his final scenes. (Especially as he handled his gun, then ducked out early on New Year's Eve...) And when the camera panned down to his feet, as he got a glass of water in the kitchen, I knew something was about to happen.

But why exactly did he unlace his boots and remove them (right?) before jumping over the edge?

It's days later, and I'm still thinking about this film. It was a truly special cinema experience.

[–] bonsai-superstar 11 years ago

There could also be some symbolism on a larger level: Italy has the nickname Lo Stivale (The Boot) because it is boot-shaped. He left Italy and the earth.

The "Achilles" comparison is also valid: he finally "opened up" and relaxed, and being open, relaxing, and revealing himself was his Achilles heel. He didn't need his boots anymore.

I had that sense of dread in that scene too. My thought was that, as he had just left the house of the political group's target, they had mistaken him for the target and were going to shoot him on the balcony. The fireworks would have been a perfect cover. This was heightened by the scene of him in the car after leaving the house - it looks like he is distracted by the lights of the car behind him.