Io non ho paura (I´m not scared)

”Io non ho paura” or ”I´m not scared” is a very colorful Italian coming of age film from the director Gabriele Salvatores. Though made already in 2003 with a lot of nominations and wins at several film festivals I haven´t seen it until recently. It´s a rather scary story about a young boy who makes a horrible discovery involving his family. It´s also about friendship and is seen through the eyes of the boy Michele. He is played beautifully by Giuseppe Cristiano (born in 1990). Will he expose the hidden secret or will he stay loyal to his family? The camerawork in this film is absolutely excellent. Italian film industry has produced several good films, and this is no exception.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Malèna

Nominated for two Oscars in 2001 for best cinematography (Lajos Koltai) and best music (Ennio Morricone), one nomination at the Berlin International Film Festival (Golden Berlin Bear), the audience award at the European Film Awards, the Golden Globe at the Golden Globes, USA, and many other nominations including winning at David di Donatello Awards and Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists, this is a well acclaimed Italian coming of age masterpiece.  It´s a strong story about the young boy Renato Amaroso taking place in the beginning of the WWII in a sleepy village in fascist Italy.  The conditions of life in such a place where gossip goes around fast and the Italian catholic moral ideas are very present are authentically woven together with the story of Renato´s journey into manhood. Malèna is the most beautiful woman in town, and Renato´s life changes from the day he first sets his eyes on her. This is a really nice film, with a beautiful photo, excellent acting and with an entertaining and ”genuinely erotic” (Washington Post) story. The director is Giuseppe Tornatore, the writer and director of  ”Cinema Paradiso”. The boy is played by Giuseppe Sulfaro (born in 1984).

 

 

  

Other productions Giuseppe Sulfaro has been engaged in:

”Don Gnocchi – L’angelo dei bimbi” (2004)

”Enas iroas… sti Romi” (2006)

”Il sole nero” (2007)

 

 

Upcoming reviews (during july/beginning of august):

1. Country Teacher

- A very new Czech film about a middle aged teacher who is going to the countryside to work in the local school, at the same time struggling with his own acceptance of his homosexuality and with his falling in love with a teenage boy. A very rare and good film!

2. Nachttocht

-A Dutch coming-of-age story about a boy who is falling in love with his sports/canoe-teacher, who in turn is falling in love with the boy´s mom. A very nicely done and rare triangle drama about love and friendship. Similar to ”Country teacher”, though with totally different twists and also much older (but equally good!).

3. Gutta boys

- A Norwegian TV-series about a group of boys in a coming-of-age drama.

4. Russian film (rare)

- A rare film (so rare I have forgotten the title but will of course update you with that information later), about a boy who is struggling to survive a hazardous boat trip.

5. My uncle Antoine

- Considered to be the best Canadian coming-of-age film, and is about the developing consciousness of a young boy as he learns to deal with both sexuality and death.

6. Malena

- An Italian coming-of-age-story about a young boy who encounters the beautiful Malena, the dream of all men. Said to be an intense and very interesting film.

7. City of Men

- A Brazilian TV-series about kids in the slum of Rio de Janeiro.

8. Captain Abu Raed

-A new film, not yet released in my country, about an older man finding a new task in life and becoming a sort of father figure to a group of boys/children. Seems interesting on the trailer, more info will come later.

And some bonus reviews…..

1. ”Close to Leo”

2. ”This boys life”

3. ”The wizard”

4. ”Saving Shiloh”

Libero

11-year-old Tommy, his older sister Viola, and their father Renato have formed a strangely united family since their mother abandoned them. Despite all, this family, so full of fury, failings and inconsolable loneliness, keeps going thanks to their abiding concern for others and their love.

A very good Italian film, highly recommended!

imdb.com

                                                      

Sacred Silence (Pianese Nunzio 14 Anni a Maggio)

A catholic priest in Naples falls in love with a 13-year old alter boy. There are many questions you could ask yourself after watching this film. Where should the authorities intervene in personal matters, and when should people in a free society be given the power to make their own choices in life?  At what age can a person in general make his or her own decisions and judgements? In the film you´ll follow how the authorities get themselves involved in a matter where the solution is not completely obvious. It´s well acted, with a nice photo, even if the color-quality perhaps is not the best. Emanuele Gargiulo playing Nunzio is brilliant. However, I´ll leave the moral judgement of this forbidden love to you.  

Director: Antonio Capuano

Cast: Emanuele Gargiulo (Nunzio Pianese)

Year: 1996

Country of origin: Italy

Nominations:

-Bogota Film Festival (Golden Precolumbian Circle)

-David di Donatello Awards (David)

-Venice Film Festival (Golden Lion)

Vito And The Others (Vito e gli altri)

Haunting and hypnotic, Vito and the others is the groundbreaking film which drew international attention to the problem of neglected youth and street crime in poverty-stricken Naples. The film’s opening moments are startling and deeply disturbing. A despairing Rosario has just murdered his wife and daughter at the dinner table on New Year’s Eve. Somehow, Vito quietly convinces his father to drop the gun, spare their lives and call the police. Placed in the custody of sexually abusive relatives, Vito is left free to roam the trash-strewn backstreets of Naples where he and is friends engage in drug abuse, prostitution and petty crime. Ably acted by a large cast of nonprofessional street kids, Vito and the others is a heartrending portrait of innocents without a future.

Director: Antonio Capuano

Cast: Nando Triola (Vito)

Year: 1991

Country of origin: Italy

 

 

 

Il Ladro Di Bambini (The Stolen Children)

Antonio, a policeman, is ordered to take two children, Rosetta and her brother Luciano, from Milan to Sicily to an orphanage after their mother has been arrested for forcing Rosetta to work as a prostitute.

A sublime movie in the Neo-realist tradition, Antonio helps these two damaged children discover, for a few days, the childhood that has been denied them.

It has won several awards including the Grand Prize of the Jury at the Cannes Festival in 1992.