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| I'm Not Scared is a story of a boy who does what Jesus told his followers they were to do in order to find the Kingdom of God: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, visit the sick and those in prison. Jesus went further and said that those who do such things to the least important in society, are actually doing them for Jesus himself. |
I'M NOT SCARED
(2004) Film Review |
| This page was created on May 15, 2004
This page was last updated on
May 15, 2004
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| CREDITS |
|  Directed by Gabriele Salvatores
Novel by Niccolò Ammaniti
Screenplay by Niccolò Ammaniti and Francesca Marciano
Producers
Marco Chimenz ... producer
Giovanni Stabilini ... producer
Antonio Tacchia ... line producer
Maurizio Totti ... producer
Riccardo Tozzi ... producer
Cast - in credits order
Aitana Sánchez-Gijón ... Anna
Dino Abbrescia ... Pino
Giorgio Careccia ... Felice
Giuseppe Cristiano ... Michele
Mattia Di Pierro ... Filippo
Diego Abatantuono ... Sergio
Other credited cast listed alphabetically
Fabio Antonacci ... Remo
Stefano Biase ... Salvatore
Giuseppe Bocchino ... Michele
Adriana Conserva ... Barbara
Giulia Matturo ... Maria
Susy Sánchez¹ ... Filippo's mother
Antonella Stefanucci ... Assunta
Fabio Tetta ... Teschio
Michele Vasca ... Candela
Riccardo Zinna ... Pietro
Original Music by Ezio Bosso and Pepo Scherman
Cinematography by Italo Petriccione
Edited by Massimo Fiocchi
Rated
For rating reasons, go to FILMRATINGS.COM, and MPAA.ORG.
Parents, please refer to PARENTALGUIDE.ORG |
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| SYNOPSIS |
 Something sinister is lurking under the surface of 10-year old Michele's (Cristiano) idyllic summer in 1978. While the days in his remote southern Italian village are filled with the familiar routines of childhood, a chance discovery leads to a
shocking revelation. Now, suddenly beyond the point-of-no-return, Michele digs further to find that even his own parents may be behind what's quickly becoming the country's most nefarious crime
Italian director Gabriele Salvatores (MEDITERRANEO) masterfully directs this eerie and engrossing suspense thriller involving a 10-year-old boy who lives in rural southern Italy. It is summertime and Michele (Guiseppe Cristiano) is free to spend the long sunny days riding his bike and running through the wheat fields. In fact, the wheat could be considered Michele's costar, as it often consumes the entire scope of the screen
showing how Michele plays, hides, and ponders life in the vast expanses of flowing yellow stalks. Because there are only a few other children in the village Michele often plays alone, and one day he discovers a hole in the ground, obscured by wheat, where a boy his age is chained and imprisoned. The boy has clearly been starved and mistreated, yet Michele approaches him fearlessly and attempts to make friends with him. With the dreaminess that is a 10-year-old's truest treasure, Michele
doesn't ask too many questions, nor does he draw conclusions about why the boy is in the hole, or who put him there. Through the expressions on young Michele's face, viewers can read his light questioning of human existence, human morality, and human rights. However, as the film draws on, subtly revealing shocking secrets about the adults in Michele's village, the beauty of this utterly simple yet deadly powerful plot come clear. I'M NOT SCARED is a moving film built on crystal clear
images of the Italian sun, sky, and wheat fields; strangely offset by its startling loss-of-innocence story. |
 Review by
DARREL MANSON BLOG
Pastor, Artesia Christian Church, Artesia, CA
http://netministries.org/see/churches/ch01198
Darrel has an incredible love and interest in the cinematic arts. His reviews usually include independent and significantly important film. |
|
“. . . I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me
something to drink, . . . I was in prison and you visited me.”
-Matthew 25:35-36 (NRSV)
 Michele is a ten-year-old boy growing up in rural Italy. He plays with his friends. He loves his parents. He watches
out for his sister. He lives the typical life of a child with few of the worries of the world. He still enjoys a sense of innocence. He doesn't yet have to struggle with doing the right thing.
 When he discovers a child being held prisoner in a hole in the ground, we know he should probably call the police, but instead, he does what seems right to him: bringing water and food, and visiting him -- even getting him out of the hole for a day in the sun before returning
him to the hole.
 I'm Not Scared is a story of a boy who does what Jesus told his followers they were to do in order to find the Kingdom of God: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, visit the sick and those in prison. Jesus went further
and said that those who do such things to the least important in society, are actually doing them for Jesus himself.
 When Michele first discovers the boy, Filippo, in the hole, it seems to him like a grand adventure. He even develops a story to explain why someone would treat a child like this and to explain the connection he feels with the other child. But as the story progresses, it
becomes more complicated. Filippo has been kidnapped from a rich family in Milan. Worse, Michele's father is involved in the kidnapping. Michele's loyalties are tested. He is torn between his family and the connection he has established with Filippo. Can he find a way to save Filippo?
 I'm Not Scared is a wonderful thriller. Early on there is already threat and suspense, even in the play of Michele's friends. The suspense grows as we learn more about the plot and those involved. As things begin to go wrong
with the kidnapping plot, we begin to expect there will be tragedy of some sort. The climax may be a bit heavy handed, but provides us with a clear picture of what it means to truly act for others.
 Is Michele fearless as the title indicates? No. He does what must be done in spite of his fear. Dan Rather said, “Courage is being afraid but going on anyhow.” It is this courage that Michele manifests, whether it
is in meeting a dare from a somewhat arrogant playmate or running away at night to seek to save Filippo.
In the end, we see in Michele a wonderful example of what it means to take care of others, to truly care for them even when it means danger for ourselves. Feeding the hungry and visiting the imprisoned is not about being nice, it is about giving of ourselves to them and for them, just as Christ gave of himself to us and for us. Michele shows us a bit of Christ's giving for us
and also the giving Christ calls us to, on behalf of others.
Jesus also said, “Unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3 - NRSV) Michele is an example of a child we should seek to become.
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