The film unfolds against the 1982 World Cup, centering on “Nino” (Gabriele Pizzurro), a young boy living in Sicily who faces regular bullying from the local villagers and is presumed to be gay. Nearby, “Gianni” (Samuele Segreto) assists his father with their fireworks business, which thrives due to the numerous religious festivals held on the island. Their paths cross after Nino has another argument with his stepfath…

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…