Ten Great Foreign Films Of This Decade

I'm Not Scared

by Ari

The camera tracks through a cave as the opening credits appear on screen. It’s eerie, haunting, dangerous. The atmosphere gives the impression that what you’re about to see is a horror film that might actually be horrifying, a suspense film that might actually deliver on the promise of the genre. You might expect these things, that is, if you have no idea what Gabriele Salvatores’ film is about prior to watching it, just as I was unprepared when I first saw it three years ago. And while I’m Not Scared is certainly a suspenseful and frightening thriller, Salvatores quickly makes it clear that his story is something far more complex and emotionally resonant.

I’m Not Scared saw a limited theatrical release in 2004, which was met with some critical acclaim, but little studio support. How this film wasn’t nominated or even in the running for a best foreign film Oscar that year is beyond me. The film is a triumph, one of the best offerings from Italian cinema in a long time. I'm Not Scared is a story of childhood innocence and maturation, of friendship and family. A realistic horror story in every way, I’m Not Scared explores the concept of a child being forced to understand the cruelty of an adult world at a terribly young age, where certain ideas and situations of right and wrong are too difficult to comprehend. Salvatores layers his story with incredible emotional power, building the tension and drama to one of the most perfectly executed endings I’ve seen in cinema this decade.

Michele (Giuseppe Cristiano) is a young boy who lives with his family in a remote village in Southern Italy. This village is beautiful and peaceful, and Michele spends most of his summer days playing with his friends and having a great time. He’s not exactly aware of his family’s situation, but he might have a sneaking suspicion that things aren’t completely stable. After playing with his friends in an old abandoned house, he notices a small pit nearby. This cave is obviously covered and somewhat hidden, but Michele investigates it as any imaginative child would. What he uncovers is terrifying, a young boy his age chained at the bottom of the cave, something that naturally scares the living hell out of him. However, when Michele returns home, he doesn’t tell anyone about his discovery. He knows something is wrong, but he isn’t quite aware of all the implications.

Meanwhile, Michele’s father has also returned home, but things are a little bit tenser than usual. After some time, Michele realizes his father is involved with the criminals who kidnapped the boy for a ransom. It’s difficult for him to grasp this news since he loves his father, but he understands the chained prisoner is an innocent boy in need of help. Michele isn’t quite mature enough to comprehend an immoral world, and he’s especially too young to attach immorality to his family. So Michele helps the boy in the only way he can - he becomes a friend, chatting and even playing with him during the day. In one moving sequence, he helps the boy, Fillipo (Mattia Di Pierro), out from his dark prison and into the sunlight and fields to play. As the afternoon comes to an end, Michele returns Fillipo to his cave so he doesn’t get in trouble. As a child his age, Fillipo understands his situation. As their friendship develops, Michele begins to piece together the facts until he finally decides to help Fillipo escape. As I previously stated, the conclusion of the story is tremendously powerful. The direction is beautiful and the performances are stunning. In time, this film will be considered a masterpiece.

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