The Stolen Children

France/Italy 1992 (subtitles)
112 minutes
Directed by Gianni Amelio
Leading players - Enrico Lo Verso, Valentina Scalici & Giuseppe Ieracitano

Synopsis

The Stolen Children opens in a working class area of Milan, populated by Sicilian migrant workers. A mother is arrested for prostituting her eleven-year-old daughter Rosetta (Valentina Scalici), and the girl and her younger brother Luciano (Giuseppe Ieracitano), are entrusted to a young policeman Antonio (Enrico Lo Verso), to be taken to a childrens home in Rome.

Being stuck with a couple of problem kids is not a job he relishes, particularly after his partner hatches a plot whereby Antonio does all the work while he takes an unscheduled holiday. Unfortunately the saintly social workers at the church-run home refuse to take Rosetta as they believe her past would make her a bad influence, so Antonio takes it upon himself to take the children to a shelter for problem kids in Sicily. As the threesome travel the length of Italy the barriers between Antonio and the sullen withdrawn children break down and they begin to trust an adult for the first time. However the authorities become aware that Antonio has exceeded his authority and a scandal is brewing over the disappearance of the children.

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'The Stolen Children' is a stunning simple story strongly told and director Gianni Ameno draws powerful performances from the three leading players. The film bears more than a passing resemblance to another contemporary Italian movie, and great favourite of the Jersey Film Society, 'Cinema Paradiso', in that an adult provides stability and friendship to children who would otherwise lack them.