|
| . |
|
I'm Not Scared 2003 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Gabriele Salvatores
R, 110 min. (disturbing images, language) |
 |
Starring: Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Dino Abbrescia, Giorgio Careccia, Giuseppe Cristiano, Mattia Di Pierro, Diego Abatantuono
Producers: Marco Chimenz, Giovanni Stabilini, M. Toti, R. Tozzi
Screenplay: Niccolò Ammaniti, Francesca Marciano
Cinematography: Italo Petriccione
Distributor: Miramax Films
Released: 4.09.04 (Limited)
(In Italian with subtitles) |
Rating:
  (out of ) |
I'm Not Scared sees life through the eyes of a 10-year old boy, one who suddenly enters adulthood sooner than he should
have to bare. When an idyllic summer in the wheat fields of Italy circa 1978 turn to mystery then danger, young
Michele (Giuseppe Cristiano), must confront the ugly reality that evil exists all around him. Directed by Gabriele Salvatores,
whose Mediterraneo won an Oscar for best foreign film in 1992, the film successfully combines elements of the
coming-of-age tale with thriller elements worthy of more adult-oriented pictures. Bolstered by mesmerizing cinematography
by Italo Petriccione, I'm Not Scared is a memorable picture.
Michele lives each summer day in totality, playing with friends and enjoying the open air of the countryside with abandon.
But when he stumbles upon a pit covered by a piece of sheet metal, what he finds at the bottom is startling - a human foot
extruded from under a blanket. He runs home, afraid of what he has discovered, but of course returns to further investigate.
He learns that the foot belongs to a young boy (much his own age), Filippo (Mattia Di Pierro), who is chained to the bottom
of the pit and need of food and water. He slowly befriends the boy, bringing him sustenance and friendship, until the
reasons behind his entrapment becomes horrifyingly clear - his father, Pino (Dino Abbrescia), is involved in his kidnapping.
Michele's younger sister and visibly shaken mother (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon) are also troubled by Pino's involvement in the
crime, which is spearheaded by Sergio (Diego Abatantuono), a dangerous man from out of town who has come to stay with
the family during the ordeal. Now Michele must make a decision, to save Filippo from a terrible end or stand aside and
watch his father stumble onto a point of no return.
The engaging aspect of the film comes from the fact that Salvatores has framed each scene through the filtered senses of
a young boy, which allows even ordinary activities, such as adult arguments and conversations, to elevate the material
above its commonplace level. The picture is not so much about the specifics of a kidnapping as it is about Michele's
premature aging and his response to a now ambiguous sense of right and wrong. His father's involvement has shaken
his foundations to the core, and he must follow his own instincts or follow his father's warped idea of the end justifying the
means. The film could also be seen as a tragedy since Michele's hero (his father) has betrayed his innocence and
anchor of morality, which is now plundered.
The improbable success of I'm Not Scared, which incorporates different genres, solid acting, and engaging backdrops,
represents an ever-growing nature in Salvatores, who is still pushing his limits as a director. I suspect children could
completely understand and sympathize with Michele here, and maybe that more than anything else is reason enough to
give the film a hearty recommendation.
© 2004 Jonathan Cornwell
|
|
 |
 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
| Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
© 2000 - present ReelCriticReviews
All movie pictures are registered trademarks and/or copyrights of their respective holders
Their use on this site is for informational purposes only and does not imply ownership
|
