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Contains mild spoilers
Seeing this film is an eye-opener to some of the mindless drivel that most movie studios churn out. Kidnapping films are ten a penny in Hollywood, so this is a refreshing, and powerful take on the subject. Set in Italy, the film follows the young protagonist, Michele, as he discovers a boy living in a hole.
What starts out as a seemingly innocent depiction of friendship soon unfolds as a dramatic and gripping thriller. I rarely use the word "gripping" to describe a movie, although in this instance it is wholly justified. Beautifully directed, captivating, and yet managing to draw the fine line between a story about young friendship, and a kidnapping, this film has everything. You can truly empathise with the boys' story, as you are drawn deeper into it. This is a film that can best be described as truly alive.
Giuseppe Cristiano's portrayal of Michele is commanding and sensitive, backed up by a more than capable performance from Mattia Di Pierro as Filippo. The children are a joy to watch, exuding raw talent and emotion throughout every scene. You are completely drawn into a world of innocence, beauty, friendship, betrayal and ultimately, danger.
This is quite simply one of the best foreign language films I have seen. Actually, forget that - it's one of the best films period. The musical score adds to the ambience, the direction is colourful, rich and inviting, and the acting is a pleasure to watch, while remaining completely convincing. This is a great thriller/drama, categorise it how you like - it's just a stunning film! 10/10 all the way!
score 10/10
ollie501 5 December 2003
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0885379/ |
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3-3-2021 00:05:08