One of the great things about foreign films is how they can break you free of hardened genre expectations. If I'm Not Scared had been a thriller made in the U.S., I'm sure it would have been much more predictable, playing by the established "rules" of mainstream film. As it is, though, this Italian film offers a fresh, surprising story that hooks viewers from the start and doesn't let them go until the credits roll.

Part of the fascination of I'm Not Scared (original Italian title: Io non ho paura) is the fact that it's several stories rolled into one, and each strand of the film works very well. On one level, the film is a slice of life from rural Italy in the 1970s; the young protagonist, Michele (Guiseppe Cristiano), is busy with the normal tasks of growing up, like testing his parents' limits, dealing with his little sister, playing with the handful of friends his age in his small town, and absorbing as much as he can about what the adults around him are doing. On another level, I'm Not Scared is a deftly crafted thriller, in which Michele unearths (literally) the evidence of a crime, and slowly becomes drawn into increasingly dangerous and complicated territory.

Blending the two threads together is the fact that the film is told strictly from Michele's point of view. We see what he sees, we learn what he learns; an added layer of depth is added by the fact that we, the adult viewers, can put the pieces together from what he's seeing in a way that Michele, with his limited experience, can't. He retains a degree of innocence about what's going on, almost to the very end, even while we see the clouds of darkness gathering around him.

While I'm Not Scared has the elements of a classic thriller, as we are anxious to learn what's going on and who's responsible, it's also a thoroughly realistic film. The children here are ordinary children, not Hollywoodian heroic children, Goonies-style; Gabriele Salvatores must have had a deft hand with directing his young cast, because all of them, both Michele and the others, seem to be living their parts rather than acting them.

Visually, I'm Not Scared is beautifully handled, with its cinematography adding another layer of depth to the film. The bright, sunlit hayfields contrast sharply with the blackness underground or at night; cramped interior rooms contrast with the open fields. The thematic connection isn't pushed at us, but certainly the visual support is there, and it works especially well when it ends up being turned on its head, as when the open fields end up carrying a sinister chill.

The DVD

Video

Appearing in its original widescreen aspect ratio of 2.35:1, I'm Not Scared looks great in its DVD transfer. The transfer is anamorphically enhanced, and overall the image quality is excellent. Colors are bright and vibrant, and the image is crisp and nicely detailed. Some edge enhancement shows up, but the print is clean and free of noise or flaws. Optional English and Spanish subtitles are included.

Audio

I'm Not Scared's original Italian soundtrack is presented in a clean, crisp Dolby 5.1 soundtrack. While there's not much use of the surround channels, the sound overall is clean and clear-sounding throughout the film. Optional subtitles are available in English or Spanish.

Extras

There are no special features on the DVD.

Final thoughts

I'm Not Scared is an excellent film, taking the basic elements of a thriller and taking them in a new, creative direction. Partly a coming-of-age story, partly a slice of life as well as a gripping suspense story, I'm Not Scared is certainly something refreshingly different. Highly recommended.