Intolerance against members of the gay community has long been a theme in LGBTQ+ cinema, one that has become so common that it's indeed familiar, if not overdone. However, when it's set in a historical context, it can be valuable for illustrating how far this segment of society has come (and in a relatively short time, too), as well as a legacy instructional tool for younger members of the community. Such is apparently the intent behind writer-director Giuseppe Fiorello's debut feature, a sincere effort at telling the fact-based story of a pair of teenage gay men (Gabriele Pizzuro, Samuele Segreto) in 1982 Sicily who face growing prejudice and harassment from locals and family members as their relationship begins to surface publicly. It's a bittersweet heart-tugging tale of friendship, love, courage and undue bigotry that genuinely strikes a chord of sympathy with viewers. However, with a runtime of 2:13:00, it's also needlessly long, especially at the outset, moving by at a snail's pace that begins to grow tiresome by the film's middle. The film also suffers from some uneven, inconsistent character development, making one wonder where some of its unexpected shifts in tone come from. Both of these issues are not entirely unexpected in the work of a first-time filmmaker, a creator who's still learning about knowing when to "kill one's darlings," an error a little more than apparent here. Admittedly, the film finishes strongly in the final act, especially in its chilling conclusion. Nevertheless, the picture could have easily been cut by about 20 minutes without losing anything, and the director would have been wise to pursue that course (perhaps he will next time). It's unfortunate that "Fireworks" ends up getting bogged down by its own narrative in light of the strength of its story and the importance of its message. We can never be reminded too much of where we've been so that we can avoid going back there again - and reliving the indignities that our predecessors had to endure.
8 Reviews
Must be seen massively!
MarcoMdg20 July 2023
As a Sicilian origins I knew the story but I didn't expect to watch such a finest way to describe it.
This movie it's absolutely well made.
I got immediately in "nostalgia" mood from the first. Everything is well cured, photography, sound, light, costume, words, gestures, expressions. I could almost smell the tomato sauce, the coeffee on the table, the dry grass in the summer, the cicadas, the smell of the fireworks, even if the "carne simmenthal" with the lemon... Yes, it was really hard to watch the story, no easy/cheesy tears or stereotypes as you can expect but the movie gives to you a kick in the stomach, given by the ignorance, the lack of empathy and cruelty of the disgraced human being...and lot of anger.
For this reason the story its not only about homofoby.
Even if the direction seems to be quite light, silence, untold words, I can see the contrast with the real drama that seems coming from the narrative of Giovanni Verga, verist, realist, humble, pure and cruel as life unfortunately can be.
Beside all there's a delicate touch of innocence, a smile, a look, a "stolen kiss" and lot of silence full of meanings and understanding.
..."Quello che si fa di nascosto si può fare per cent'anni"...but shouldn't be like that!
This movie it's absolutely well made.
I got immediately in "nostalgia" mood from the first. Everything is well cured, photography, sound, light, costume, words, gestures, expressions. I could almost smell the tomato sauce, the coeffee on the table, the dry grass in the summer, the cicadas, the smell of the fireworks, even if the "carne simmenthal" with the lemon... Yes, it was really hard to watch the story, no easy/cheesy tears or stereotypes as you can expect but the movie gives to you a kick in the stomach, given by the ignorance, the lack of empathy and cruelty of the disgraced human being...and lot of anger.
For this reason the story its not only about homofoby.
Even if the direction seems to be quite light, silence, untold words, I can see the contrast with the real drama that seems coming from the narrative of Giovanni Verga, verist, realist, humble, pure and cruel as life unfortunately can be.
Beside all there's a delicate touch of innocence, a smile, a look, a "stolen kiss" and lot of silence full of meanings and understanding.
..."Quello che si fa di nascosto si può fare per cent'anni"...but shouldn't be like that!
A gay Cavalleria Rusticana? Yes, but a very powerful one
Mengedegna2 June 2023
In the words of its director, Giuseppe Fiorello, a veteran actor here making his first film as director, "Fireworks" is a reimagining of a true, and tragic, event that occurred in a an emotionally straitened Sicily in the early 1980s. At the U. S. premiere this afternoon at Film at Lincoln Center, he stated that he made it not from any generic ambition to become a director, but from an urgent need to tell this specific story, and to tell it sincerely and without any genre encumberments - there is no post-facto investigation of the events, and no trial of the accused - only the events themselves, as seen mainly through the eyes of the two young protagonists, Gabriele Pizzuru and Samuele Segreto, who are both magnificent in their openness and spontaneity. Fiorello wanted, he said, to make this film to be about, above all, the "delicacy of adolescence" ("and we all have been adolescents," he added), and in achieving this, he chose well.
The tale unfolds in small-town Sicily, at a time of Vespas, lire, and bellbottoms, with the 1982 FIFA World Cup as background (Italy's victories, played out locally on ancient TV screens, punctuate the action). While there are a few lovely seashore settings, this is not the Sicily of postcards, of the streets and cathedrals of Palermo or the majesty of Mt. Etna. This is a place where the earth is bruised by a huge quarry and where there is constant censure and bullying by a community of small minds, the better to enforce a stifling conformity, drawing on Mafia thugs to beat it into errant neighbors if all else fails. All this is portrayed by an ensemble cast that includes what seem like quite a few local amateurs. (For greater authenticity, the film is in the Sicilian language, with only occasional, and brief, code shifts into Italian - even the original title, "Stranizza d'amure", is in Sicilian. I assume the film must have been shown in Italy with subtitles.) In the Q&A, the still very boyish leads emphasized how working as part of such a collective of more experienced actors was deeply enriching.
There are sequences that seem a bit overstaged (again, this is a début film), but this matters less and less as the boys meet by accident (literally, in a motorbike collision - too cute? Possibly, but very nicely done), and form an instant friendship that moves on to what,, in this setting, becomes far more perilous. Gianni is absorbed into Nino's welcoming extended family, and eventually joins Nino in his father's fireworks business (hence the English title). The intensity of all the many intersecting relationships increases bit by bit, reaching an almost unbearable level, until the hammer blows of local reality strike unforgivingly.
Bring plenty of Kleenex for this one, but, with its powerful social and dramatic subtext, the film is something far more moving and meaningful than any simple weepy could ever be. Is it a bit operatic? Yes, for sure, but, as at the end of any decent performance of Mascagni's Sicilian masterpiece, you wipe away your tears and jump up to shout Bravo - as the audience this afternoon indeed did. May the fickle gods of U. S. distribution get this terrific gem onto as many screens as possible!
The tale unfolds in small-town Sicily, at a time of Vespas, lire, and bellbottoms, with the 1982 FIFA World Cup as background (Italy's victories, played out locally on ancient TV screens, punctuate the action). While there are a few lovely seashore settings, this is not the Sicily of postcards, of the streets and cathedrals of Palermo or the majesty of Mt. Etna. This is a place where the earth is bruised by a huge quarry and where there is constant censure and bullying by a community of small minds, the better to enforce a stifling conformity, drawing on Mafia thugs to beat it into errant neighbors if all else fails. All this is portrayed by an ensemble cast that includes what seem like quite a few local amateurs. (For greater authenticity, the film is in the Sicilian language, with only occasional, and brief, code shifts into Italian - even the original title, "Stranizza d'amure", is in Sicilian. I assume the film must have been shown in Italy with subtitles.) In the Q&A, the still very boyish leads emphasized how working as part of such a collective of more experienced actors was deeply enriching.
There are sequences that seem a bit overstaged (again, this is a début film), but this matters less and less as the boys meet by accident (literally, in a motorbike collision - too cute? Possibly, but very nicely done), and form an instant friendship that moves on to what,, in this setting, becomes far more perilous. Gianni is absorbed into Nino's welcoming extended family, and eventually joins Nino in his father's fireworks business (hence the English title). The intensity of all the many intersecting relationships increases bit by bit, reaching an almost unbearable level, until the hammer blows of local reality strike unforgivingly.
Bring plenty of Kleenex for this one, but, with its powerful social and dramatic subtext, the film is something far more moving and meaningful than any simple weepy could ever be. Is it a bit operatic? Yes, for sure, but, as at the end of any decent performance of Mascagni's Sicilian masterpiece, you wipe away your tears and jump up to shout Bravo - as the audience this afternoon indeed did. May the fickle gods of U. S. distribution get this terrific gem onto as many screens as possible!
Authentic in its own way
FilippoCarcaci22 September 2023
As a Sicilian who was 13 during the World Cup, I find incredible levels of authenticity together with a representation of the places and of the social relationship that resembles more the 50s than the 80s. Nevertheless this film has given me real emotions, and appreciate the effort not to sugarcoat anything. But the story between the boys is so real and intense, and so delicate, didn't really need to have a brutal background to come forward. Maybe it was all like that, but that would have been a bit of an outlier, the place where the facts happened is a tourist destination and a commercial hub. Yet I've given 10 because in some places and at some time every single piece of land, language, dialogue, emotions, behaviour would have been real, and they are all portrayed magnificently.
a confession
Kirpianuscus7 October 2023
Maybe honesty is the basic virtue of this film about teenagers, their love, about Sicily and answers to what can not be accepted .
It is a film of details, landscapes, people, tastes, colors, forms of seduction and intimancy.
And , in same measure, it is an admirable expression of freshness , from acting to dialogue, from the moments of pure happiness to clashes in so many senses.
A true story sounds, foer many reasons, a good kick to see it. But Stranizza d amuri has the precious gift to be an universal story, out of gay case, out of a place from Europe, out of cliches or melodrama.
In many senses, a simple confession about love, people and rules of a land.
It is a film of details, landscapes, people, tastes, colors, forms of seduction and intimancy.
And , in same measure, it is an admirable expression of freshness , from acting to dialogue, from the moments of pure happiness to clashes in so many senses.
A true story sounds, foer many reasons, a good kick to see it. But Stranizza d amuri has the precious gift to be an universal story, out of gay case, out of a place from Europe, out of cliches or melodrama.
In many senses, a simple confession about love, people and rules of a land.
Authentic yet whimsical
eltonlevin2 February 2024
This movie captivates the senses with its meticulously crafted visuals and poignant storytelling. Every frame of this film is a testament to the director's vision, blending realism with a touch of whimsy to create an immersive experience. The deliberate pacing and composition of each shot invite the audience to engage deeply with the narrative.
The characters are portrayed with authenticity that resonates with the times, making their journeys all the more compelling. The natural performances by the cast add a layer of sincerity to the narrative, further drawing the viewer into the world of the film. The editing complements the storytelling as well. Every frame has a purpose.
The cinematography is truly exceptional, with each shot crafted to convey both intimacy and artistry. The setting of 1980s Italy, depicted with golden hues and a nostalgic atmosphere, adds a layer of charm to the film.
The characters are portrayed with authenticity that resonates with the times, making their journeys all the more compelling. The natural performances by the cast add a layer of sincerity to the narrative, further drawing the viewer into the world of the film. The editing complements the storytelling as well. Every frame has a purpose.
The cinematography is truly exceptional, with each shot crafted to convey both intimacy and artistry. The setting of 1980s Italy, depicted with golden hues and a nostalgic atmosphere, adds a layer of charm to the film.
Declaration of Love
saturatedgrey8 March 2024
Firework is strange. We take risks with what is potentially dangerous, and turn them into something beautiful. The explosion of gunpowder, rocket propelling skyward, to the stunning array of colors within.
While asking "what's your favorite color?" is considered a cliché for a first date, we commonly associate colors with our emotions. I believe it's because we experience life through a spectrum of colors from our earliest moments, from picking up our first crayon to gazing in awe at fireworks. When we take the time to delve deeper and ask why someone favors a certain color or what memories it evokes, we uncover a trove of life experiences, nothing less than a carefully crafted questions.
Love is strange. We take risks with what is potentially dangerous, and turn them into something beautiful. Now do i only understand that love is like firework, and it is the most powerful declaration of emotions.
Just like how Gianni and Nino's love ignited the establishment of the world's first Arcigay Association.
While asking "what's your favorite color?" is considered a cliché for a first date, we commonly associate colors with our emotions. I believe it's because we experience life through a spectrum of colors from our earliest moments, from picking up our first crayon to gazing in awe at fireworks. When we take the time to delve deeper and ask why someone favors a certain color or what memories it evokes, we uncover a trove of life experiences, nothing less than a carefully crafted questions.
Love is strange. We take risks with what is potentially dangerous, and turn them into something beautiful. Now do i only understand that love is like firework, and it is the most powerful declaration of emotions.
Just like how Gianni and Nino's love ignited the establishment of the world's first Arcigay Association.
Beautiful Movie
dantharpe24 April 2024
A movie of sadness, joy, struggle, heartbreak, betrayal... it captivates the heart and mind through a most difficult time in Sicilian society in the 1980's. The enormous love shared by two won out over the ridicule and rejection of others. Watch this movie, it might be just above a snails pace at times, but overall is worth the time.
Gabriele Pizzurro and Samuele Segreto do an outstanding job in acting and the subtle expressions that make the movie so believable... then when you learn its based on a true story, it leaves you contemplating it for days. Very touching...
You will enjoy this movie very much.
Gabriele Pizzurro and Samuele Segreto do an outstanding job in acting and the subtle expressions that make the movie so believable... then when you learn its based on a true story, it leaves you contemplating it for days. Very touching...
You will enjoy this movie very much.
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