Highly Overrated But Still Good

From my favorite movies..

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

I know the book. and this was the motif to have not great expectations from its adaptation. but... . it is one of films who preserves more than the spirit of the novel. but it gives a large map to discover yourself. because it is the story of a boy front to one of the dramatic experiences who change not only himself but entire perception about values and relatives and justice and duty. the precise sensitivity of the performances of the lead young actor, the beautiful science to give force to nuances, the tension and the childish adults are pillars for a film who gives not only a beautiful atmosphere or roots of a drama, but the tools for an exercise of empathy.

The brilliantly sunny wheat fields of Italy are contrasted with a dank, dark hole accidentally discovered by a young boy after his sister loses here eyeglasses; the black hole houses an even darker surprise that affects him with consequences never anticipated.Much more than a simple suspense tale, this evocative immersion in Italian country life depicts a young man grappling with moral issues as simple as peace with his friends and as complex as the integrity of his parents; it dazzles the eye with the color of brilliant orange field flowers, teases the mind with probable outcomes, and satisfies the intellect with puzzles which linger in the mind about the world we build for our children. Highly recommended

This is the first film directed by Salvatores that I watch(though I've been considering checking out Nirvana for quite a bit of time), and it will not be the last. He directs this beautifully, building atmosphere with undeniable skill and captivating our attention for the duration of this, with a psychological thriller told entirely from the perspective of children, specifically the boy Michele. Cristiano is flawless in his portrayal of a realistic kid. Every single character is completely credible, and while not everyone is treated to a lot of on-screen development(on account of the limitations that came with the chosen approach to the material), no one feels one-note. All of the acting performances are amazing. The plot is compelling and you can't stop guessing what will happen next. This has spot-on pacing, it is not boring or overwhelming at any point. The writing is excellent in every respect, story, dialog, everything. This has incredible editing and cinematography, aiding in rendering this utterly gripping from start to finish. The sound and music are astonishing, and used marvelously well. There is infrequent moderate to strong language in this, as well as some disturbing content and one clear hint towards sexuality. The Scandinavian DVD comes with a commentary track, two featurettes(five and a half and twelve minutes in duration, respectively) and a trailer. While I would gladly comment on the quality of these extras, not one of them were subtitled, and, not speaking Italian, I did not understand what was said in them. I recommend this picture to any and all fans of the genres. 8/10

The real mastery in this film lies in the beautiful simplicity of it's childlikeness. There are few movies in Cinema that portray the innocence and unfeigned nature of children - before the loss of their transparency on the way to adulthood. I know the French film Ponette might come to mind for some lovers of cinema, but that was shot entirely from the perspective of little children almost to the exclusion of grown ups. This film shows the stark contrast of the two worlds by interweaving them, with childhood itself being one of the main characters, as landscapes were for John Ford in so many of his Westerns. Toward the end, it reaches for the sublime in moments of Michelangelo.For me, the emotional interaction of these very young non actors made the movie spiritual to some degree by way of it's sheer honesty, without compromising the true spirituality in the principles and very adult themes of good vs. evil, betrayal, forgiveness, reaping what you sow, the coming Judgment, and finally - true friendship born of selflessness. Something we adults could learn more from by becoming more like little children ourselves, myself included. I believe this to be one of the best expressions of the young mind in realism, without crossing over into the fantasy that is so common in film today. How refreshing.Of course all of this speaks for the excellence of the Director and the Writer, who gave us such a beautiful picture. Something that could only be pulled off by adults, albeit with at least the fond memory of a child, if not the heart of one. The cinematography, the very intentional and gorgeous classical score, along with much subtle but deep contrast, make this a modern classic that I will enjoy again and again. I hope you do too.http://fullgrownministry.wordpress.com/2013/05/26/peace/