Stories about discrimination against LGBTQ+ people are a frequent occurrence in films made by or for the queer community, reaching a point where they feel commonplace. Yet, when these narratives are situated within a historical setting, they can be useful in demonstrating how much progress has been achieved in a relatively brief period and serve as an educational resource for younger generations. This seems to be the aim behind Giuseppe Fiorello’s first feature film, which attempts to portray the true story of two adolescent gay men (played by Gabriele Pizzuro and Samuele Segreto) living in Sicily in 1982, who encounter increasing prejudice and mistreatment from their neighbors and families as their relationship becomes more visible. It's a poignant story about friendship, affection, bravery, and unfair intolerance that evokes empathy in the audience. Still, at two hours and thirteen minutes long, it feels excessively drawn out, particularly during the initial portion, which progresses very slowly and begins to wear on viewers around the film’s midpoint. The movie also has some problems with inconsistent character development, leaving one questioning the source of certain abrupt changes in mood. These issues aren't entirely surprising given that this is the work of a new filmmaker, someone still developing an understanding of when to remove elements that don't serve the story—a mistake that’s fairly obvious here. The film does manage to conclude powerfully, particularly with its unsettling final scene. However, it could have easily been shortened by roughly twenty minutes without sacrificing anything, and the director should consider doing so in future projects. It's disappointing that “Fireworks” gets weighed down by its own storytelling given the strength of its core narrative and the significance of its message. We can’t be reminded enough about our past to ensure we don’t repeat it—and to avoid experiencing again the hardships faced by those who came before us.

Source on TMDB