''A Children's Story'' (), also known as ''Certain Children'' in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

, is an Italian

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by Andrea and Antonio Frazzi which focuses on the life of an eleven-year-old boy growing up in an environment of poverty and criminality in

Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...

. This was the second film to be made by the Frazzi twins, '' Il cielo cade'' (starring

Isabella Rossellini Isabella Fiorella Elettra Giovanna Rossellini (; born 18 June 1952) is an Italian actress and model. The daughter of Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman and Italian film director Roberto Rossellini, she is noted for her successful tenure as a Lancôme ...

and JeroenKrabbé) having been released in 2000. It was Andrea Frazzi's last film; he died in May 2006. ''Certi bambini'' was awarded the 2004 Crystal Globe at the 39th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

Plot

Rosario, an 11-year-old boy, lives in an apartment building on the outskirts of Naples with his grandmother Liliana, who is old and sick. Born into an environment of confusion and crime, he constantly oscillates between bad influences, such as Damiano, a criminal who exploits his gang, the camorra, and good habits, like his grandmother, whom he takes care of, and the local church. His days are spent hanging around arcades, bad sandwich shops, committing petty crimes, and playing impromptu Russian roulette on the ring road. He also attends a shelter run by volunteers that helps struggling families. His role models are Damiano, a thug from the neighborhood, and Santino, a volunteer at the shelter. One day, Rosario meets Caterina there, falls in love with her, and his life seems to improve. But a series of negative events eventually pushes him into the arms of organized crime, and evil becomes an inescapable fate. The material decay of the crumbling city transforms into the moral decay of the young boys, who have no other option but to follow their destined path as small criminals.

Cast

* Gianluca Di Gennaro as Rosario * Carmine Recano as Damiano * Arturo Paglia as Santino *

Sergio Solli Sergio Solli (19 November 1944 – 3 February 2023) was an Italian actor and stage director. Life and career Born in Naples, Solli was originally a hairdresser who acted in small amateur dramatics as a hobby, but his career had a turning point ...

as Casaluce * Rolando Ravello as Sciancalepore * Marcello Romolo as Don Alfonso * Mario Giordano * Nuccia Fumo * Terence Guida * Miriam Candurro as Catarina * Carlo Caracciolo * Francesco Di Leva * Marcella Granito as Giulia * Alessandro Guasco * Gennaro Mirto * Patrizio Rispo * Maria Laura Rondanini

Awards

* Karlovy Vary International Film Festival: Best Film

References

External links

* *
A Children's Story
' at Eurochannel 2004 films 2004 drama films Italian drama films 2000s Italian-language films Films about the Camorra Films set in Naples Crystal Globe winners Films directed by the Frazzi brothers 2000s Italian films Italian-language drama films {{2000s-drama-film-stub

Plot

Cast

Awards

See also

References

External links