I saw Io Non Ho Paura (I’m Not Scared) in the theater when it was first released in the United States and I had been putting off watching it again. I remember loving it, but also remember being a little traumatized by the subject – the kidnapping of a 10 year old boy named Filippo. Seeing it this time I realized that while it is disturbing, it’s at the same time uplifting and even inspirational. It’s a classic story of right and wrong, but it’s amazing the clarity when shown to us through the eyes of a child. And since it is a child’s challenge, he isn’t even equipped with the same power and tools that an adult has to make change for good.
Ten year old Michele finds Fillipo in chains in a hole in the ground covered with a sheet of metal and you might think that his first instinct would be to tell the adults – to get help. But Michele knows that the adults, even his own parents, are not to be trusted. As he begins to understand more about what’s going on he’s compelled to help Filippo.
Io Non Ho Paura is based on the story of real boy from Milan who was kidnapped during the period in Italy in which terrorist groups kidnapped wealthy people from the North and held them in the South, and killed them if a ransom wasn’t paid.
This gripping movie set in 1978 Basilicata was filmed from a child’s perspective – literally – the lens is lowered to a child’s eye level. And it is told from a child’s emotional level; we are really made to feel Michele’s compassion and fear, and Filippo’s despair. Watching them I became lost in their world and genuinely afraid for them.
This is one of the really good ones – this is one of the best. The acting is natural and believable. The cinematography is expert, and the soundtrack is poetic and in lovely contrast with the harsh reality of the story.
And the scenery – bellisimo! We have to find out more about Basilicata, the region of Italy with golden rolling hills of wheat and big blue skies that is grossly neglected in the travel section of the newspapers and the cook books.
Over the next few days I’ll be researching and writing about the foods, the wines, and the people of Basilicata. I also want to know more about the kidnappings during the 70s and 80s and “gli anni di piombo” – the years of lead – in which terrorist groups murdered and kidnapped at epidemic levels.
Tomorrow let’s look at the light side – the food and wine. I’ve never met a region of Italian cooking I didn’t love and I’m sure Basilicata is no exception. Domani, andiamo in Basilicata!
Io Non Ho Paura – 2003
Director: Gabriele Salvatores
Writers: Niccolò Ammaniti (novel), Niccolò Ammaniti (screenplay)
Stars: Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Dino Abbrescia and Giorgio Careccia
I Love Italian Everything 