I’m Not Scared (Io non ho paura) (2003)
RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: 14 wins & 18 nominations
A well-acted and thrilling coming-of-age tale that captures a child awakening to the frightening world of adults.
If you’re looking for a movie that will make you feel like you’re back in your childhood, but with a little bit of a dark twist, then I’m Not Scared is the perfect pick. The cinematography is absolutely stunning, and the story will keep you on the edge of your seat. Plus, who doesn’t love a good coming-of-age tale mixed with a little bit of crime and mystery? It’s like Stranger Things, but in Italy and without the Demogorgon. So grab some popcorn and get ready for a wild ride.
Production Company(ies)
Bluemark Productions, C-Hundred Film Corporation, Civilian Pictures,
Distributor
Miramax Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for disturbing images and language
Year of Release
2003
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 50m
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom, Italy, Spain
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 8, 2003 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 12, 2004
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
coming-of-age, drama, Italian, child, awakening, adults, well-acted, thrilling, Gabriele Salvatores, directed by, Marco Chimenz, produced by, written by, R, MPAA rating, box office, Miramax Films, Giuseppe Cristiano, starring, Mattia Di Perro, starring, Adriana Conserva, starring, Fabio Tetta, starring, Giulia Matturo, starring, Stefano Biase, starring, reviewed by, Will Self, reviewed by, David Denby, reviewed by, Miles Fielder, reviewed by, James Christopher, reviewed by, Bill Muller, reviewed by, Marc Savlov, reviewed by, Cole Smithey, reviewed by, Mark Halverson, reviewed by, Pablo Villaça, reviewed by, Boyd van Hoeij, reviewed by, Philip Martin, reviewed by, Robert Roten, produced by, drama, 1h 50m, Neptune Frost, Sweet Sixteen, Stevie, The Dreamers, Why We Fight, Maelstrom, Miramax Films, $1.6M, Surround, Michele, Filippo, Barbara, Teschio, Maria, Salvatore
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Mattia Di Perro – Filippo
Adriana Conserva – Barbara
Fabio Tetta – Teschio
Giulia Matturo – Maria
Stefano Biase – Salvatore
Director(s)
Gabriele Salvatores
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Marco Chimenz
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
14 wins & 18 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (100) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (90) | Rotten (10)
If you had despaired of Italian cinema ever regaining the lyricism of the Tavianis and Rossellini, I’m Not Scared will come as a welcome surprise. And if you seek a good yarn well spun, you won’t be disappointed.
January 9, 2018
Will Self
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
A lyrical throwback to such movies as René Clément’s Forbidden Games (1952) and other works of the humanist European cinema of a half century ago.
August 1, 2004
David Denby
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
The beautiful photography will have you booking flights to Sicily, while the unsentimental rites-of-passage drama can’t fail to touch your heart.
June 11, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Miles Fielder
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
A terrific attempt to express a young boy’s moral awakening using intense colour schemes, wide-angle lenses and unforgiving close-ups
June 9, 2004
James Christopher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The director reminds us that not all films require a breakneck pace or ridiculous twists to be effective.
May 27, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Bill Muller
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
By far the most gorgeous slice of sunlit sadism so far this summer, I’m Not Scared also manages to be oddly sweet: a boy’s life, with treachery.
May 23, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
“I’m Not Scared” suffers from ill-conceived staging and sluggish pacing. The film’s theme that altruism and ignorance are punished is a careless postulate drawn from a kidnapping spree in Italy during the late ’70s.
May 6, 2009 | Rating: C-
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 5/5
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
Delicado em seu retrato da infância, peca apenas pela conclusão frouxa, quando o próprio filme torna-se infantil.
May 18, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Pablo Villaça
Cinema em Cena
Harmoniously blends elements of a coming-of-age story, a crime drama and a mystery together in something of astonishing power and scope.
February 16, 2005
Boyd van Hoeij
european-films.net
This is a visually stunning film, an intelligently consummated marriage of genres resulting in a movie that is, if not unique, at least very special.
January 29, 2005 | Rating: A
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Few movies evoke the wonder and terror of childhood as this film does.
January 26, 2005 | Rating: B+
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope…
Plot
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 happening. Michele is unsure whom he should tell about his discovery, eventually spilling the beans to his closest friend.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features a young Giuseppe Cristiano in the lead role of Michele.
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