Welcome to Reel Q 38

A sunbaked Sicilian town in the summer of 1982 provides the vivid backdrop to this tender romantic drama about two teenagers who fall in love, but much to the disapproval of those around them. Gianni (Samuele Segreto) is a handsome but shy teen who works as a car mechanic at his stepfather’s garage but mercilessly taunted by the macho townsmen for being a homosexual. With his family life no better, Gianni withdraws into himself until one day he meets Nino (Gabriele Pizzuto), a curly-haired boy with an infectious smile. As the two become close and fall in love, the moral rumblings from their families and neighbors begin to erupt. With all against them, the boys decide to make a stand. An emotional and beautifully realized movie, Fireworks was based on a real-life incident, one which actually jump-started the Italian Gay Rights movement in 1981.