On My Skin - Characters & Cast

Initially, Stefano's motivation is survival and navigating his precarious situation. After the beating, his primary motivation becomes enduring the immense pain while paralyzed by fear. He refuses to officially report the beating, likely fearing deadly retribution from the officers. This silence, born of terror, is a key factor in his tragic fate.

Stefano begins the film as a wiry, street-smart young man living on the margins. He is flawed—he uses and deals drugs—but he is not a hardened criminal. His arc is a tragic, physical, and psychological descent. Following his arrest and beating, he transforms from a defiant individual into a broken, fearful shell of a man. His journey is not one of development but of disintegration, as the system strips him of his health, dignity, and ultimately his life. His death transforms him into a symbol of injustice.

Her motivation is her love for her brother and a fierce, unwavering desire for truth and accountability. She refuses to accept the official explanations and is driven by the need to find out what happened to Stefano and who was responsible for his death.

Ilaria's main arc largely takes place after the events of the film, but is powerfully foreshadowed. Within the film's timeline, she transforms from a concerned sister, trying to navigate a frustrating bureaucracy, into a grieving, horrified, and ultimately determined fighter for truth. The final scenes, showing her reaction to seeing Stefano's body, mark the beginning of her public crusade for justice.

His motivation is the fundamental parental drive to protect his child. He wants to see Stefano, ensure he has his epilepsy medication, and understand why he is being held. He believes in the system, which makes its ultimate failure all the more devastating for him.

Giovanni is portrayed as a respectable, lower-middle-class surveyor who is both disappointed in his son's life choices but also deeply loves him. His arc is one of increasing helplessness and desperation. He tries to use his position and reason to get through to the authorities but is repeatedly stonewalled. His journey through the film is from parental concern to profound, impotent grief.