Sicilian Ghost Story

Inspired by the 1993 abduction of 11-year-old Giuseppe Di Matteo, writer/directors Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza once again combine the supernatural and the sentimental in this atmospheric follow-up to their acclaimed debut, Salvo (2013). Dotting the action with fairy-tale references, the duo cast a sombre spell over the small Sicilian town where residents are too cowed to speak about the activities of the local Mafia. But, when her classmate (Gaetano Fernandez) suddenly vanishes, Luna (Julia Jedlikowska) ignores the warnings of her strict mother (who knows that he has been snatched in a bid to prevent his assassin father from turning informer) and challenges her neighbours and the police to justify their indifference. The fantasy connection established by the separated adolescents is charmingly done, with Luca Bigazzi's restless camerawork conspiring with Marco Dentici's production design and the film's soundscapes to immerse the audience in the action. But, while Grassadonia and Piazza deftly exploit the fabulous symbolism, they never lose sight of the grim realities beneath the seemingly enchanted surface.