His "imaginary" friends, however, grow jealous. As Tommaso tries to protect Mara from their influence, the line between fantasy and reality blurs dangerously. The film famously leaves the audience to decide: are these creatures truly real, or are they manifestations of a deeply disturbed child's psyche? Cinematic Impact and Rarity Breakthrough Performance : Valeria Golino's magnetic performance earned her a Globo d'oro for Best Breakthrough Actress Atmospheric Horror