I'm Not Scared

Italy, 1978: Life in the southern Italian region of Apulia seems to come to a near standstill in the sweltering summer heat. In a small village, whose few houses lie scattered among endless wheat fields, nine-year-old Michele lives with his parents and his sister Maria. While the adults try in vain to escape the heat, Michele and his friends roam the area in search of excitement and adventure. On one of these forays, while playing near an abandoned farmhouse, the boy discovers a deep hole in the ground. Curious, Michele inspects the mysterious pit - and suddenly makes out a ghostly figure in the darkness. Terrified, he flees. But the bizarre encounter haunts him. Cautiously, he sneaks back to the hole and realizes: a boy is being held captive in the dark pit like an animal. The darkness, the isolation, and the fear have broken the boy; he can barely express himself clearly and is convinced he is already dead. Michele, who from then on provides the feral Filippo with food, doesn't dare to talk to his parents or friends about his eerie discovery. Eventually, he discovers that men from his village, including his father Pino, are behind this cruel and mysterious act. Determined to help the boy, Michele launches a dangerous rescue mission.