jcru91 With its great plot, this is one of the best foreign films out there. It achieves what can't be done in America with its artistry, openness, sorrow and desire; all while sometimes being very simple. "I'm Not Scared" has convincing characters, a realistic feel, great acting, and is always interesting. Do not ignore seeing this movie! You should not regret watching it in the slightest. It is a movie not just worth seeing, but worth owning in my opinion. It saddens me to know that most people probably have never seen this film or read the book, which encouraged me to write this review. If you are looking for a movie to add to your watchlist, look no further.

Neil Doyle A nice hint of mystery, some gorgeous Italian countrysides and a mix of classical background music all lend the proper touches to this sensitive coming of age story involving a pre-teen boy who befriends a kidnapped boy in a cave and only gradually comes to learn anything about the circumstances that put him there.GIUSEPPE CRISTIANO is the inquisitive boy who decides to help the victim escape his being executed by some villagers who hold meetings overheard by the boy. The story is slowly paced and we only learn a few outlines of the story as the boy does, but since it's mostly a character study of a sensitive youth who wants to do the right thing, it works best on that level.The sumptuous color photography of the wheat fields and the glorious classical music in the background are factors that weigh heavily on the film's success in luring a discriminate viewer to enjoy what the film has to offer. The interaction of children at play is very natural, and the performance of Giuseppe Cristiano is first rate since he must carry most of the film on his small shoulders.An interesting tale, told with simplicity but dealing honestly with some of the harsher elements of adult life. Told from the viewpoint of the child actor, it's a first rate piece of film making from director Gabriele Salvatores.The only disappointment comes in the resolution--an ending that tells us nothing of the eventual fate of those involved.

jcappy Admiration for Gabriele Salvatores' "I'm Not Scared" abounds here, and it comes from several angles, but there is one important point that seems to have gone missing. And that is Michele's singularly un-male identity. Since I do not know Salvatores' work, I don't know his intentions, but there's no mistaking this very rare result.Michele seems to have a gut instinct about power abuse. And specifically that of the male sort. Twice he intervenes to halt sexist attacks--once on a girl pal, and once on his mother. He does not tell himself it is her business, or his fun, or his right--he acts on what he knows. And his whole rescue mission on behalf of Filippo is in a similar vein, because it is a group of men (blackmailers) who put this young boy in such a vulnerable, life-threatening position. What is convincing about this is that none of his risky responses seem individual or heroic, but rather social/moral in nature. In his public acts, one senses the influence and courage of his mother, Filippo, his sister and others.And what is remarkable in all this is that Michele has not one masculine impulse. He arm wrestles his father once, but it is hardly a power struggle, and he accepts help from his sister to achieve "victory." He has a convincing, unshowy, and true affection for Filippo, his mother, his sister, and withholds this affection from those whose actions and words have a male cast. He's also unselfconsciously thin and solitary; has an unsentamentalized relationship with nature; and although very much a part of a social web, shows no signs of male bonding (based in female exclusion).My unapologetic wish is that more Michele's will populate the silver screen--but I'm not holding my breath in anticipation.

estandard Predictable and uninteresting. Lack of story cannot be helped by pompous music and an abundance of golden fields (you get sick of them) with hedgehogs, frogs, owls, ants and other animals just making the scenery too perfect. If it would have been an American movie it would have been plain crap. The Italian language and environment makes it somewhat worth seeing. Its hard to find really good Italian films. Ladri di biciclette, nuovo cinema paradiso, il postino and la vita è bella are the only ones I've found so far. (I don't really care for older Italian films because they really have aged to much to be enjoyable.)