MovieChat Forums > Io non ho paura (2004) Discussion > Motive (spoilers)

Motive (spoilers)

posted 18 years ago by Schezzi
4 replies | jump to latest

Having both read the book and seen the movie, I'm still left wondering what drove the village to become involved in the kidnapping, or indeed, HOW it actually came about. Certainly the village is poor, the drought must be affecting crops, and the parents are dreaming of better things for their families; but Salvatore's family for example are quite well off (especially in the book), no-one is apparently going hungry or suffering from their poverty, and Michele's family even have a television.

That Michele knows of no other life (and the results of the bungled situation) seems to suggest his father's involvement in crime is comparatively new (I searched in vain for information about his actual daily employment - maybe deliveries with the truck??). I just find little evidence in either text to justify or even explain the villagers' decision to kidnap Filippo, their subsequent callous treatment of a small boy over three months, and their ambiguous attitude that they are doing the wrong thing for the right reason...

[–] stargirlinheals 18 years ago

Whilst I have not seen the movie, in the book it is due to the segregation that existed between the north and south, the north being much more wealthy than contrastly to the poverty stricken south. I'm not sure about Salvatore's family, but for the other families the kidnapping may mean that life could be a little easier (Pino could work away from home less etc)

[–] Schezzi 18 years ago

Thanks for the reply! Since my previous post I found out the author of the book actually grew up in a wealthy family, and the fear of kidnapping in real life was thus very real - in fact, the government eventually legislated to prevent rich victims from paying ransoms because kidnapping and the hatred from North to South was so rife (which may explain why the kidnapping goes so wrong in this text.)

[–] shnoockemz 17 years ago

Yeah, especially in the 1970s in Italy, children in Milan especially were at great risk of kidnap because the south was so ruined by the war. even today, southern italy is beuatiful. but no where near as thriving as Rome and the North. Most proxy brides came from the south as they were sent to Australia and America to get a better life.

In the book, it says Salvatore's family has money in Swiss Bank accounts. Salavtore was rich generally because his father had all the dodgy money in those swiss accounts.

[–] lorilee32-1 9 years ago

My Great Grandfather came to the USA from Southern Italy around 1900 and he said to never look up any of our relatives in Italy. Maybe they were bad news..