Most critics find The Best of Youth absorbing and moving, with its long span sustained by close attention to family life. Praise centres on the ensemble, particularly Luigi Lo Cascio’s naturalistic performance, and on Giordana’s restrained direction. The reviews repeatedly describe a drama that remains intimate while connecting private lives to Italian history. Its length is generally treated as time well spent, with the screenplay drawing praise for handling politics and family conflict without forcing melodrama.
The reservations are limited rather than widespread. The AV Club notes sentimental missteps and modest thematic reach, while still finding the film satisfying. Time Out’s praise applies only to the first instalment, which limits its assessment of the whole. The recorded scores lean strongly positive, with one mixed response, but The New York Times review text is inaccessible, so its reasons for dissent cannot be established.