The troubled relationship between Gianni and Nino, set in the narrow-minded and prejudicial Sicily of 1982.
Acting
Segreto's eyes contain multitudes of repressed want.
Cinematography
Sicily itself becomes a character—beautiful and murderous.
Direction
Fiorello's first film? Unbearably assured and cruel.
Director
Giuseppe Fiorello
Samuele Segreto
Gianni
Gabriele Pizzurro
Nino
Fabrizia Sacchi
Carmela
Simona Malato
Lina
Enrico Roccaforte
Franco
Antonio De Matteo
Alfredo
Roberto Salemi
Uncle Pietro
Giuseppe Spata
Uncle Ciccio
Anita Pomario
Giuseppina
Alessio Simonetti
Turi
Raffaele Cordiano
Totò
Giuditta Vasile
Isabella Scalia
Barbara Giummarra
Moglie Pietro
Giuseppe Lo Piccolo
Emmanuele
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Fiorello based this on the true 1980 murder of Emanuele Mandolesi, a gay teen killed by his lover's father—Sicily's shameful open secret.
The title's irony: fireworks celebrate Sicilian saints while the boys' love literally cannot be seen, only hidden in darkness.
IT
