I’m Not Scared
Theme: Isolation
Isolation
Isolation is a central theme in I’m Not Scared.
Isolation can be experienced in a number of
different ways by different people.
 A person might feel lonely and isolated when
they find themselves separated from their friends
and family.
 Feelings of loneliness and desperation might be
felt by someone who is forced to live in isolation
in a remote, rural place.
 Imagine the terrifying sense of isolation
experienced by Filippo who has been kidnapped
and held in darkness in a hole in the ground.

Isolation in I’m Not Scared
 The
theme of isolation can be seen many
times in this film.
 The main example of isolation is found in
the terrifying ordeal of the young boy
Filippo who is being held as a kidnap
victim in a hole in the ground.
Isolation in I’m Not Scared

The film is set in a remote, rural part of southern
Italy which adds to the theme of isolation.
 We also see the theme of isolation being
explored through the various characters interact
with each other and in the character’s reluctance
to be excluded from their group of friends.
Opening Shots
 The
Films opening shots immediately
create a sense of dread and isolation
 We see a dark place that looks like a
freshly dug grave and clay walls and the
long roots of plants stretching down like
horrible hairy fingers.
 Somebody has written the words “I’m not
scared” on the clay wall.
Opening Shots
 What
impression is created in this opening
scene?
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MiD-
cwDa5o
Opening Shot
 The
camera shot manages to create the
frightened impression that somebody is
either dead or alone in a place that looks
like a grave.
 The camera then rises slowly until we
burst into glorious sunshine and we feel a
sense of relief as if escaping from a grave.
Isolation among Children
 We
are immediately introduced to a little
group of children as they scamper through
the corn fields.
 Skull their leader has a cruel streak and
likes to humiliate and endanger others.
 In order to remain in the circle and avoid
being isolated, the children are willing to
obey Skull and to recognise him as leader.
Isolation among Children

The place where they live is so isolated and
remote there are no other options. If a person
was to leave this group of friends, they would be
all alone with nobody to play with.
 The fact that the group obey Skull, even when
he asks them to do humiliating or dangerous
things, shows us that nobody wants to be
isolated from the group.
 In I’m Not Scared Barbara is unfairly chosen and
must pay the forfeit for coming last in a race.
Main Example of Isolation
 Of
course the main example of isolation in
I’m Not Scared is the terrifying plight of the
young ten-year-old boy Filippo who has
been kidnapped and is being held in the
hole.
 His suffering is almost unimaginable as he
lies chained by the ankle, in a dank dark
hole.
Filippo
 He
has been taken from his family
mistreated. He is thirsty and hungry when
Fillipo discovers him and severely
traumatised.
 He believes that he is dead and has gone
to the place where dead people go.
 Slowly Michele manages to help the boy
recover his sanity and in the end bravely
saves his life.
Setting
 The
setting of the film is a remote, rural
place far away from busy cities.
 The village where Michele lives is a poor,
run-down place. The buildings are shabby,
the roads are more like dirt-tracks and the
cars are in very poor condition.
 This is a poor, isolated community with no
opportunity for success.
Setting
 However,
poverty and greed are no
excuse for the behaviour of the people
who live in the village.
 Filippo is made to suffer because of the
greed of these people.