Bad Tales

Bad Tales is a 2020 Italian film directed by the D'Innocenzo brothers, starring Elio Germano, Tommaso Di Cola, and Giulietta Rebeggiani. The movie tells the story of a suburban community and its dysfunctional families, in which children regularly witness and experience unsettling and abusive situations.

The story unfolds in a seemingly idyllic suburb, where middle-class families go about their daily lives, trying to put on their best facade. However, behind closed doors lies a world of secrets, lies, and abuse that the children of the town are all too familiar with.

The movie is divided into five chapters, each focusing on a different family and a different aspect of the community's dark underbelly. Through the eyes of the children, we are shown the twisted and often violent relationships between parents and siblings, and the toxic environment that surrounds them.

One of the families we meet is that of Mirko (Giuseppe Ielasi), a rough and abusive father, who terrorizes his family with his violent temper. His son, Maicol (Tommaso Di Cola), is a quiet and sensitive child who loves to study, but his life is made unbearable by his father's constant abuse. His younger brother, Mirko Jr. (Justin Korovkin), is a destructive child who takes pleasure in hurting others and destroying things around him.

Another family we meet is that of the stuck-up Carlo (Massimiliano Tortora) and his wife, Giulia (Barbara Chichiarelli). Their daughter, Sara (Beatrice Grannò), is beautiful and popular, but deeply unhappy. She is tormented by the fact that her parents have an open relationship, and her father brings home a string of lovers, each one more inappropriate than the last.

Then, there's the family of the mysterious man who lives in a campervan in a nearby field. His teenage daughter, Luna (Giulietta Rebeggiani), is a wild child who spends her days stealing and dealing drugs to her schoolmates. Her rebellious nature has made her the black sheep of the town, but when she meets the even more troubled and deranged Pietro (Elio Germano), she finally finds someone who understands her.

Overall, Bad Tales is a haunting and disturbing film, which shines a light on the darkest corners of human behavior. The D'Innocenzo brothers have created a searing portrait of a community on the brink, where the children are the only ones who can see the truth. The movie has been praised for its powerful performances and its unflinching portrayal of the harsh realities of life. If you're looking for a thought-provoking and emotionally challenging film, Bad Tales is definitely worth checking out.