neumu [ cinematronic ]




	I'm Not Scared
	Gabriele Salvatores Giuseppe Cristiano, Mattia Di Pierro, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Dino Abbrescia, Giorgio Careccia, Diego Abatantuono 2003		Italy in the 1970s was beset by kidnappings-for-profit, particularly in the south. With this milieu and subject, the fine, haunting Italian film "I'm Not Scared," from Oscar-winning director Gabriele Salvatores ("Mediterraneo"), comes off like a docudrama. That might unfairly imply that the project was, like many U.S. docudramas, a quickie designed to capitalize on a topical and often lurid story for speedy monetary gain. Not so. As it happens, the script for "I'm Not Scared" was adapted by Niccolò Ammaniti from his novel about a 1978 snatch of a youngster from a well-off family. It's as much about a childhood of sun-kissed innocence that's upended by unexpected trauma as it is about a specific crime and its aftermath. Michele (Giuseppe Cristiano), a curious young boy from a small southern village, stumbles upon a child named Filippo (Mattia Di Pierro), who is imprisoned in a deep hole by an empty house outside of town. Confused and upset, Michele wonders how he can help Filippo, especially since those responsible for the dilemma are most of the adults in the village. The tragedy is twofold: There's the suffering of the victim and his family, and the offenders' betrayal of their own offspring. Set during a rural heat wave, "I'm Not Scared" has a gorgeous, idyllic look, but it's a visit to a cold, unnerving place.