Maladolescenza
Maladolescenza is probably the most forthright films around about teenage sexuality, but it also explores how needlessly cruel kids can be to each other when jealousies flare. The film begins with the developing romance between Fabrizio, played by 17 year-old Martin Loeb, and Laura, played by 12 year-old Lara Wendel. Fabrizio is alternately heartless and tender towards Laura, but she loves him anyway. The two apparently live on the edge of an idyllic forest, replete with a meadow, pond and even some ancient ruins. The first half-hour or so focuses not only on their relationship, but on their emerging sexuality, such as Fabrizio spying on Laura as she relieves herself. This culminates with Fabrizio and Laura consummating their love in the ruins.
About this time, a mysterious beauty appears on the scene. Sylvia, played by 11 year-old Eva Ionesco, sets her sights on Fabrizio almost at once. The new couple set about playing cruel tricks on Laura, who is now either completely ignored, or heartlessly tormented. She watches powerless as Sylvia shoots a bird repeatedly with a bow and arrow, and then chases Laura around, threatening to shoot her. Another scene shows Laura being chosen as 'it' for a game of hide and seek. She finds them making love beneath a tree. But how will this end? Can all three live together in happiness?
The entire cast is made up of the three kids. Martin's seems to be the jerk boyfriend, who's only nice when he wants something. Lara rips at your heart the whole way through. She is almost constantly the object of torment; at times you feel sorry for her, other times you're screaming at the VCR 'Leave him, you're better than that!' Eva plays her part like a seasoned pro. She seems to alternate between spoiled brat and preadolescent siren, and does so with tremendous ease. The idea of just the three kids making up the whole cast, is what gives this film its credibility. There are no adults, no convoluted reasons why they're not around, nothing to make it seem contrived. It's just three kids in the forest.
An edited version of this film is available on video, but the deleted scenes make a tragic commentary on our society. The movie is certainly graphic in it's depictions of both violence and sexuality. There are scenes showing the murder of a bird, and Laura being thrown into a deep pit, as well as explicit scenes of a 17 year-old boy and an 11 year-old girl having sex. The distressing part is which scenes were eliminated, and which were left in. The unfortunate message is that it's okay for kids to hurt each other, but it's not okay for them to pleasure each other. The same message can be deduced from a more recent film 'Pups' about two 12 year-olds who rob a bank on their way to school. Brief mention is made of their sexual activities, but it's quickly overrun by more scenes of preadolescent violence. Especially today with all the news of kids commiting violent crimes, school shootings, etc. it really is sad that scenes of hatred would be chosen over scenes of love. I'm certainly not saying that the censors are condoning violence, but I certainly think that the wrong scenes were deleted.
Martin Loeb and Lara Wendel in Maladolescenza
