Given the unfortunate frequency of random acts of mass carnage carried out by young American males in the 21st century, Pietro Germi’s fittingly titled Gioventù perduta (US: Lost Youth) may hit even closer to home today than it did in postwar Italy. A likely victim of both mental illness and an amoral society, the smug and aloof Stefano Manfredi (Jacques Sernas) hails from an upstanding, well-off Italian family but spends his free time leading a gang of thieves, seemingly out of boredom. When their latest armed robbery results in a corpse, the cool and calm Alfredo orchestrates a coverup, which necessitates the elimination of evidence left at the scene (a lighter with his initials on it). It turns out the lighter was found by the timid, young Maria (Franca Maresa) who has long been in love with Alfredo, a fact that leads her into serious peril. Carla Del Poggio plays Alfredo’s loving sister Luisa, who’s becoming increasingly suspicious of her brother’s extracurricular activities, even more so once she starts dating local police officer Marcello Mariani (Massimo Girotti), who’s leading the murder investigation. Sernas’ performance is brilliantly cold, even creep; he’s the kind of guy who uses his own sister as a human shield. As always, Germi maintains optimal pacing and a perfect balance of action and character, creating a household whose peace has been threatened by the fresh postwar nihilism outside.