User Reviews

Veronica is a teenage girl that has done something to upset the local "Camorra" mafia. Mimmo, a teenage boy who sells ices (slush) on the streets, has been given the task to watch over her until the local boss of the area, Bernado, has time to come along and take care of the problem. Mimmo is unwilling, but compelled to cooperate in his task, while Veronica is flippant and understandably not co-operative. The scene is some deserted warehouse near Naples where the two develop a bond and mutual respect for each other's undesirable position despite the circumstances, both being caught up in the wrongdoings of daily mafia life. The film progresses at a gentle pace, and both characters are likable and inevitably they come to an understanding. Despite the slow pace, for me the film works on several levels. It successfully conveys that feeling of dread, evil, ignorance and misogyny that exists in the all-pervasive Italian mafia life, that feeling of helplessness, of having to accept that this is how things are, without reason but just because it is – the total abuse of power. Great acting from the two protagonists who apparently are debutants on the silver screen, and also by the mafia thugs who remind me of the occasional unsavory types I have come across while living in this great, but severely flawed country, that is Italy.

In an Italian urban area, the two teenagers, Mimmo (Salvatore Ruocco) and Veronica (Francesca Riso), are forced to spend time together at an abandoned building, because Veronica has gotten into trouble, and Mimmo owes somebody a favor, and therefore has to babysit her, until her mafioso "guardian" can talk to her.

But during their time in the condemned building, their initial animosity becomes a friendship, as they roam the area together, and share thoughts and anecdotes. Veronica doesn't want to have anything to do with the mobsters that kidnapped her, so she frequently tries to escape, but when she becomes aware that Mimmo will be hurt if she flees, her view on things change a bit.. but will it be enough to keep her from running away? The two leading actors are very likable, and there's a good tension throughout the movie, as you never really know what will happen when the gangsters return, and their growing relationship along with the fear of the unknown will keep you watching to the end.

However, when looking back upon the movie, it is very forgettable, as nothing really exciting happens during the story.. it is a very enjoyable film though, so it is definitely recommended for people who loves movies with small casts, and adventurous settings in urban areas during the summer.