PhilSalamone

Innocent Voices is a moving, visually striking, and visually disturbing piece of cinema that transcends cultural boundaries to lay bare the atrocities of child soldiering and familial survival in wartime.

The film's ending is haunting and deeply traumatic. It lingers in the mind long after viewing, a testament to its emotional impact and integrity. Rather than offer comfort, it asks the viewer to confront painful truths... Scars of war don't end in the final frame.

That is exactly why I always recommend this film-especially to those unfamiliar with the U. S.'s involvement and the devastating consequences of our occupation of El Salvador. It's more than a film-it's an urgent, unforgettable lesson in history, humanity, and empathy.

This movie is a provocative piece of "cinema-acid" from late 1960s Italy. It marries familial disintegration to political radicalism in a darkly satirical fashion. If the acting seemed "okay" to you, that could be intentional. The film's plot line lies in atmosphere, ambiguous characterization, and metaphor, rather than traditional dramatic arcs.

You'll likely walk away feeling disoriented... and that's exactly what the film wanted. It's a strange, unsettling spectacle that forces you to confront the destructive potential of ideology, parental detachment, and the innocence corrupted. Its surrealism and narrative leaps aren't mistakes. They are its point.

All in all, I did not care for this movie. While I have no qualms about the acting, I spent much of the movie questioning what it was trying to convey, which detracted from the message it was ultimately trying to deliver.

The 1986 miniseries Mino tells a heartfelt and suspenseful story set against the chaos of World War I. At its center is Giacomino "Mino" Rasi, a young boy separated from his family after a devastating avalanche. Believed dead, he is taken in by a smuggler and his loyal Saint Bernard, only to be swept up again when war breaks out across the Italian Alps.

Episodes 1-3 are the most suspenseful, pulling viewers in with the avalanche disaster, Mino's rescue, and his struggle to survive in an unfamiliar world. These early chapters strike a perfect balance of tension, danger, and emotion, making them the strongest and most unforgettable part of the series.

As the war intensifies, Mino becomes a mascot for an Alpini battalion, donning a miniature uniform as the "Little Alpino." Along the way, he experiences the brutality of battle firsthand, including a harrowing scene in no-man's-land where enemy and ally alike momentarily put aside the conflict to save a trapped child. His journey also weaves back toward his parents - a father serving in the artillery and a mother broken by grief - keeping the emotional thread alive through the turmoil.

What makes the series stand out most is the remarkable performance of its young lead, Guido Cella. His natural, grounded acting gives Mino a depth and vulnerability that makes the character's journey both believable and moving. Combined with the sweeping Alpine setting and strong production, Mino becomes an underrated gem: suspenseful, emotional, and carried by a performance that lingers long after the final episode.