In On My Skin (2018), director Alessio Cremonini crafts a harrowing descent into the systemic failures that claimed Stefano Cucchi’s life, a case that ignited Italy’s conscience. The film’s power lies not in bombast but in its restrained, almost clinical precision, a choice that amplifies its emotional weight. Alessandro Borghi’s performance as Cucchi is a masterclass in physical and emotional transformation, his wiry frame deteriorating under the crushing indifference of institutional neglect. Borghi’s Roman accent and subtle defiance give Cucchi a lived-in authenticity, making his unraveling both intimate and universal. Cremonini’s direction avoids sensationalism, opting for a stark, documentary-like gaze that mirrors the cold detachment of the system it critiques. The screenplay, co-written with Lisa Nur Sultan, excels in its economy, letting silences and glances speak louder than dialogue, though it occasionally stumbles in pacing, with some scenes lingering too long, diluting the urgency of Cucchi’s plight. Cinematographer Matteo Cocco’s muted palette grays, sickly greens, and dim prison lights creates a claustrophobic atmosphere, trapping viewers in Cucchi’s Kafkaesque nightmare. The Regina Coeli prison, with its peeling walls and sterile corridors, becomes a character in itself, embodying the dehumanization at the story’s core. Mokadelic’s soundtrack, with its haunting piano chords and electronic dissonance, underscores the film’s relentless tension without overwhelming it. Yet, the film’s refusal to show the violence directly, while a bold choice, risks leaving viewers detached from the physical brutality’s immediacy, relying heavily on Borghi’s pained expressions to convey the unseen horror. This restraint, though artistically deliberate, may frustrate those seeking a more visceral confrontation with Cucchi’s suffering. On My Skin is less a narrative than a moral inquisition, forcing audiences to grapple with questions of justice, complicity, and the fragility of humanity within bureaucratic systems. It’s a film that lingers, not because it dazzles, but because it dares to expose the quiet cruelties that persist in the shadows of society.[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_My_Skin_%282018_film%29)[](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/on-my-skin-sulla-mia-pelle-venice-review/5132088.article)[](https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/359117/)