Fireworks

Set against a backdrop of the 1982 World Cup, this is the story of the young “Nino” (Gabriele Pizzurro) who lives in Sicily. He is regularly bullied by the villagers and it’s assumed that he is gay. Nearby, “Gianni” (Samuele Segreto) helps his father run their fireworks business, a popular enterprise that manages to capitalise on the frequent religious festivals and fairs that take place across the island. The two meet after “Nino” has had the latest in a series of arguments with his stepfather and they have a near miss on their mopeds on the mountainous roads. After their introductions, “Gianni” helps to find him work in the local quarry that’s run by his uncle “Pietro” (Roberto Salemi). As the two start to hang out together, tongues in this rather small-minded community start to wag and prejudice starts to rear its ugly head. “Nino” is close to his mother “Carmela” (Fabrizia Sacchi) and it’s her well-meant intervention with the family of his new friend that brings things to an head amidst a community riddled with bigotry and irrational hatred. The two men deliver really quite poignantly here as auteur Giuseppe Fiorello gradually allows the story to evolve into something that’s fairly predictable, but it’s an attitudinal predictably that’s the potent element of this screenplay. A community of judgmental individuals who care little for the happiness of the two youths who are discretely falling in love. Sacchi delivers a considered effort here too as a mother conflicted by thinking what’s best for her son is necessarily the same as he does. This film shines quite an indicting light on an island mentality that, here, is Sicily - but it could readily reflect a multitude of rural communities where a mix of religious beliefs and intolerance can make the lives of gay people ostracising and even perilous. The denouement is interesting as it offers us a glimpse of hope but also reminds us that jealousy isn’t one of our more glorious characteristics either. The photography makes great use of the location and the light and the story, though not the easiest of watches, allows Pizzuro and Segreto to imbue quite a degree of amiable personality into characters with whom it’s very difficult not to engage with.