Adriana Conserva, Fabio Tetta, Giulia Matturo

While playing outside one day, nine-year-old Michele discovers Filippo, who is chained to the ground at the bottom of a hole. Michele witnesses town baddie Felice nearby and suspects something bad is ...( read more  read more... )happening. Michele is unsure whom he should tell about his discovery, eventually spilling the beans to his closest friend. Michele's parents learn of his discovery and warn him to forget whatever he saw.

Flixster Users

88% liked it

5,941 ratings

Critics

91% liked it

96 critics

R, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Gabriele Salvatores

Release Date: March 14, 2003

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DVD Release Date: October 19, 2004

Stats: 375 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (375)


  • October 8, 2009
    Part suspenseful thriller and part coming-of-age drama, I'm Not Scared is a minor masterpiece of film making from director Gabriele Salvatores. It's a story of crime and courage, a story of a young boy's realization that there is evil in the world and those nearest him ar...( read more)e not only aware of it, they may be a part of it. Not a perfect film, but the flaws are completely forgivable.
  • September 12, 2009
    This magical Italian rite of passage movie manages to do some difficult things very well but is less successful when bogged down with the demands of conventional storytelling. When it's going nowhere in particular, just showing something vaguely sinister chipping away at a boy's ...( read more)innocence, the film works brilliantly. However, when the plot asserts itself and that something sinister is defined - a kidnapping tale with a threat of John Paul Getty III-like aural mutilation - director Gabriele Salvatores' handling of the resultant thriller element is much less impressive. Worse still, for a film that I felt could go absolutely anywhere when it burst confidently onto the screen, things become disappointingly predictable towards the end. On the plus side, the child performances - so crucial to the success or failure of the movie - are excellent, especially those of Giuseppe Cristiano (Michele, the boy) and Giulia Matturo (Maria, his younger sister), and the Southern Italian countryside is simply breathtaking. My favourite moment is when Michele confesses to his sister that he cannot see her imaginary dog playing in the fields behind their house, and in the very next scene we see the combines rolling over the hill to harvest the wheat crop; we know with heartbreaking certainty that something intangible yet vitally important is gone forever, and that things can never be the same again for Michele.
  • September 10, 2009
    a good thriller from a child's eye view. great performances by the kids.
  • September 10, 2009
    One very memorable scary scene.
  • September 10, 2009
    Slow moving in parts, but still kept my interest throughout. A fresh perspective for this type of story and one that told through the eyes of a child.

    To have carried off the lead role in this film was perhaps difficult enough, but young Giuseppe Cristiano gave the most natur...( read more)al performance (as did most of the children) and completely carried the film by himself.

    We see a little role reversal here as the emotion and caring comes from the child rather than the parents.
  • October 27, 2009
    Recommended by 76Majikat and Liesebieke.
  • October 27, 2009
    FANTASTIC drama, on the same quality level as The Boy in the striped Pyjamas.
    It keeps you on the edge of your chair and fills you with both amazement and disgust.
    An Italian must see movie!
  • September 17, 2009
    Beautiful cinematography and naturally-performed acting enhance the brilliance of this modest, scary/disturbing and inspiring Italian modern jewel. Very inspiring and moving ending.

    69/100
  • September 10, 2009
    is beautiful history!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • September 10, 2009
    an interesting story about a boy michele who discovers that his father is involoved in kidnapping a wealthy young child filippo starting to help him out feed him tell him about his mom that he sees in tv asked about him . nice story

Critic Reviews


April 23, 2004
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

Both atmospheric thriller and heartbreaking coming-of-age tale. full review

April 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A reminder of true childhood, of its fears and speculations, of the way a conversation can be overheard but not understood, of the way that the shape of the adult world forms slowly through the mist. full review

April 22, 2004
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Both a spooky reverie about childhood and a slow-burning suspenser in which conspiracy and betrayal shake the foundations of a boy's life. full review

April 8, 2004
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Powerfully and palpably capturing the isolation, confusion and unnameable fears of childhood. full review

April 8, 2004
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

A fierce, frightening and deeply moving study of childhood. full review

View more Io non ho paura (I'm Not Scared) reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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