'The flavor of corn' is a film about friendship and love between a young boy and his teacher. Italy in '80, before pedophile hysteria' which would come after from USA, was a normal country where things like that can happen. Often parents happily welcomed a true friendship like that, well aware of natural attraction from a boy to a man, a model and example to follow, with all the affective implications that accompany such relationships. This is not a good movie, and the director' amateurism is evident, but it is a courageous movie. And this is not a small matter. Remarkable is the contrast between the instinct of the boy and the 'neurosis' of his teacher. The real problem for him is not the boy courtship, but the feelings of his own homosexuality.
8 Reviews
A relationship complicated by an age difference
Havan_IronOak16 August 2001
Lorenzo is a college student doing a student teaching assignment in a small Italian Village. He has recently lost his mother, is estranged from his father and has no family to speak of.
When he visits the home of Duilio, one of his students, he's taken into the family and between the family's welcome and Duilio's infatuation with him, Lorenzo is forced to question his attitudes and those of society towards gay relationships and relationships between those of differing ages.
Add a woman who offers the young teacher a sexual relationship but no affection, and Duilio's stepmother's suspicion about her son's teacher and Lorenzo is forced to confront his deepening feelings for the boy.
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The question of gay relationships between younger and older have always troubled me. Who am I to judge but at some point there IS such a thing as child abuse. Where is the line to be drawn? In this case the ages are not that disparate, and the oversight by the youngsters family adds a whole new element to the equation. This movie tastefully handles the subject matter, does not veer toward the sensational and ends in a thought provoking way. Bravo.
When he visits the home of Duilio, one of his students, he's taken into the family and between the family's welcome and Duilio's infatuation with him, Lorenzo is forced to question his attitudes and those of society towards gay relationships and relationships between those of differing ages.
Add a woman who offers the young teacher a sexual relationship but no affection, and Duilio's stepmother's suspicion about her son's teacher and Lorenzo is forced to confront his deepening feelings for the boy.
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The question of gay relationships between younger and older have always troubled me. Who am I to judge but at some point there IS such a thing as child abuse. Where is the line to be drawn? In this case the ages are not that disparate, and the oversight by the youngsters family adds a whole new element to the equation. This movie tastefully handles the subject matter, does not veer toward the sensational and ends in a thought provoking way. Bravo.
" The Saddest memories are those which never happened "
thinker169115 July 2013
The writer and Director of this film was Gianni Da Canpos who attempted to create International controversy and perhaps garner an award or two with this effort. The movie is called " The Flavor of Corn. " However after viewing his film, I got the distinct impression I was watching the death of a slow drama in the throes of it's last gasp. The film appears to be telling the story of A young pedagogue (Lorenzo Lena) in his first year at school. There, he meets a young boy named Duilio (Marco Mestriner) who finds the companionship of the arriving teacher intriguing and alluring. Although the Teacher is happy with the attention of his handsome student, he is much more interested with a divorced woman with rather loose morals. Interestingly enough the boy's family is taken in with the interesting teacher and smother him with hospitality and kindness. The relationship with the boy, although seemingly innocent, attempts to give the impression there is something going on between them. However, the majority of the film proves the opposite, idyllic, scenic and far too ambivalent for a romantic love-story. There is nothing in this movie which garners controversy, not even the blatant used of standard lovemaking between men and women. I suppose the director tried to reprise the role offered in the movie 'For a Lost Soldier' and failed miserably. There is nothing in the movie which can in it's most extreme be considered a man/boy film. Far from it. It's a film destined to be shelved and considered a waste of time. A poor excuse of so many other Classic films. **
Sentimental, heartbreaking.
jiqingli18 December 1999
This is a beautiful movie, very sentimental with beautiful music. The love-making scene of Lorenzo and his girlfriend looked so real. Lorenzo left his yound student thinking that their relationship would never develop into a serious one because of age difference. In real life there are situations like this that two people fall in love and have to painfully tear apart because of age gap.
Love can never be a sin...
drbagrov7 January 2014
A beautifully acted and directed love story, pure and simple, and very complicated at the same time: a twelve-year-old boy grows to love a young and very handsome (and masculine-looking )teacher.Mind you, it is not a fickle falling in love - easy to come, easy to go - but a deep and amazingly mature feeling.Of course, any boy dreams of a hero in the shape of an older brother or friend (just remember, what Sigmund Freud said about juvenile sexuality),but in the film it is deeper, more meaningful.Both, the teacher and student are very well aware of the nature of their relationship.It is the younger one, who is not ashamed or embarrassed of his love,and it is the older one, who runs away, possibly, from the biggest love in his life. My heart-felt compliments to the makers of this beautiful and sad film.The rare nowadays sense of tact and measure has never left them. It is a pity, there is no information about the careers and lives of the films' leading actors in the recent years.
Sapore Del Grano - The Flavor Of Corn (1986)
ninoguapo8 January 2007
My guess is that this movie is going to evoke different feelings in different people. I felt disappointed- not of the movie I like it a lot, but of the way the leading character (a first year teachers) choose to follow I almost screamed " how dare you " even trough I know that some people would say that he did the right thing. The scenes were filmed very professionally the river, the barn, the fields you just have to see it for yourself. There is one thing that I find strange the open minded people that live in the rural Italy in the 80s this is almost unbelievable - for its time I am sure that this movie was considered very controversial I won't be surprised if it is considered controversial even today . Feeling such as friendship and love are portrayed very good and there is a lot of romance even trough sometimes it gets between all that clusters of the routine live. Trough I enjoyed the movie it made me sad it did not surprised me much , as I know that there is rarely a thing which one could consider perfect even if thing is called love and probably especially if that thing is love. I can only hope that someday people will realise that the important thing is the love itself
an engaging, heartfelt masterpiece that if found, should not be missed.
sinnerofcinema28 September 2013
Im writing this hours after having seen "The taste of Corn". This is is interwoven meticulously creating a very heavy suspenseful drama with a subject matter most would consider very taboo. However, Lorenzo Lena manages to create sympathy and even empathy as we see his plight given a very inappropriate situation. Making matters worse, the family loves him and may have an idea of what is really going on. It is a difficult subject matter to undergo, but the film beautifully presents the conflicts with honesty, warmth & heart. If you can find this movie, you must give yourself an opportunity to experience this gem of a film. You won't regret it. simply put... engaging and outstanding. In essence, seek this film out!
friendship story
Kirpianuscus4 January 2023
I suppose, the honest perspective about vulnerability of a very young teacher, in his first year and the curiosity, need of affection, presumed love and small egoism , defining one of his students represents the basic virtue of this beautiful film.
I admitt, i saw it being myself teacher and remembering the first year teaching. And this, like the poetic title, were the main good points for me.
It is a film about youth and friendship.
Good occasion to rediscover the nice art of Marina Vlady, social aspects of countryside, relations in family after the death of mother, the second marriage of father, the grandparents and the sister, the respect to teacher, the doubts, the gifts, a kiss and the end of a school year.
After its end, Il sapore del grano remains defined by light .
Sure, critics are not rare but the gentle graceful manner to explore the sensitive subject matters at whole.
I admitt, i saw it being myself teacher and remembering the first year teaching. And this, like the poetic title, were the main good points for me.
It is a film about youth and friendship.
Good occasion to rediscover the nice art of Marina Vlady, social aspects of countryside, relations in family after the death of mother, the second marriage of father, the grandparents and the sister, the respect to teacher, the doubts, the gifts, a kiss and the end of a school year.
After its end, Il sapore del grano remains defined by light .
Sure, critics are not rare but the gentle graceful manner to explore the sensitive subject matters at whole.
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