A very satisfying European film

raymond-15

A strange and inappropriate title I thought. I almost passed it by when I saw it on the library shelf. After some hesitation I reached for it. What a great surprise lay in store for me.

Child actor Giuseppe Cristiano as Michele son of a poor farmer in Southern Italy is brilliant endearing himself immediately as he rides his bike with his sister and pals around the golden wheat fields. The whole landscape is alive with the colour of gold. An amazing opening scene that captures the innocent joys of youth.

In utter contrast Michele discovers a deep covered hole and at the muddy bottom the protruding leg of a child. Terrified at first he is drawn back to this site each day and discovers a living boy his own age held captive there. Immediately we are drawn into the story and little by little the relevant facts become known. There is a dark side to this story. Capturing children and holding them for ransom is no fairy story but a network of cruel men is active in this very scheme as a source of additional income.

Michele's thoughtfulness and consideration for the boy are responsible for saving his life for he brings water and food to him as often as he can despite the fact his father has forbidden him to play in that area. We begin to wonder....Is the father involved in this dreadful practice?

Refreshingly different the story creates our absorbing interest as Michele peers into the dark whole each time he visits and we wonder what new facts he will discover. Michele makes every effort to help the boy escape with devastating results.

The film has a nice twist to the ending.

While watching the film I recalled a verse I heard many years ago and it makes a fitting epilogue.

"Life is mainly froth & bubble.

Two things stand like stone-

Kindness in another's trouble,

Courage in your own."

score 8/10

raymond-15 30 August 2006

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1462178/