Loss Of Innocence In Im Not Scared

The loss of innocence is a major theme in “I’m not scared”. The understanding I obtained about the loss of innocence in the film “I’m not scared” directed by Gabriele Salvatores, is that people often gain knowledge about their world that causes them to lose their innocence. The main character in the film, Michele Amitrano, is a ten year old innocent, naïve boy. He lives in a tiny, isolated village called Acqua Travers in a remote part of Southern Italy in 1973. He is unaware that the adults in his village have committed a terrible, devious crime because they are so desperate to get money.
At the beginning of the film, Michele and his group of friends are playfully racing across wheat fields. Michele’s sister Maria falls and breaks her glasses which results in Michele losing the race and paying the forfeit. However the leader of the group, Skull, chooses a girl Barbera to pay the forfeit instead. He instructs her to expose herself to the boys instead. She is so enraged and displeased she looks around her group of friends to seek for support. No one in the group says anything and she begins to reluctantly unbutton her trousers. However Michele can’t tolerate this and intervenes, agreeing he will pay the forfeit. He is shown to have a …show more content…
When he hears the adults arguing about the kidnapping and sees the news, he sees the face of a normal, happy boy on TV, which contrasts with the ghostly creature he has seen down in the ground. The close up shot on his eye emphasises how he is seeing things the way they really are and he is witnessing the harsh reality that Felice and Sergio are capable of violence: “We’ll cut off two ears”. He realizes all the facts of the crime. But even though he understands what has happened, he is unable to grasp the full consequences. He does not realize that Fillipo is in danger of being killed. Now he forced to face the harsh reality and as a result, his innocence is