Stranizza d’Amuri

Directed by Giuseppe Fiorello

Produced by Iblafilm and Rai Cinema

Synopsis

June 1982, Sicily. As Italy dreams of winning the World Cup, two teenagers dream of living their love story without fear. Gianni, 17, is bullied because of his sexuality, but his life changes when he chance-meets Nino, 16 — a boy both captivating and seemingly innocent.

The deep friendship they build turns, effortlessly, into love when they begin working side by side for Nino’s father, setting off fireworks. When their bond is discovered by their families, the consequences are as violent as the times — and as unforgiving as a deeply conservative culture. Forced apart, the two boys are ready to challenge everyone and everything, convinced that their love can even defy death.

Runtime

140 minutes

Genre

Drama

Release year

2021

Cast

Gabriele Pizzurro, Samuele Segreto, Fabrizia Sacchi, Simona Malato, Antonio De Matteo, Enrico Roccaforte, Roberto Salemi, Giuseppe Spata, Anita Pomario, Alessio Simonetti, Giuseppe Lo Piccolo, Raffaele Cordiano, Giuditta Vasile, Raffaele Gangale

Awards

Audience Award

of the 24th Mezipatra QFF Repubblica Ceca (17/11/2023)

Nastri d’Argento 2023

Best New Director – Giuseppe Fiorello

Nastro della Legalità 2023

and 'Premio Graziella Bonacchi' – Samuel Segreto and Gabriele Pizzurro

Globo d’oro 2023

Best First Feature – Giuseppe Fiorello for Stranizza d’Amuri

Premio SAFITER

Best Director – Giuseppe Fiorello – 20th Safiter International Film Festival (November 17, 2023)

Premio Pipolo Tuscia Cinema

Gabriele Pizzurro and Samuel Segreto for their performances in Stranizza d’Amuri<br>Tuscia Film Fest (July 10, 2023)

Arthouse Award

Best Breakthrough Actor of the Year (ex aequo) – Gabriele Pizzurro and Samuel Segreto

Rainbow awards

International Award “Rome for LGBTQIA+ Rights” – Giuseppe Fiorello (November 13, 2023)

Photos

Cast

Simona Malato

Samuele Segreto

Gabriele Pizzurro

Fabrizia Sacchi

Enrico Roccaforte

Antonio di Matteo

Videos

Extras

Soggetto di: Giuseppe Fiorello

Sceneggiatura: Giuseppe Fiorello, Andrea Cedrola and Carlo Salsa, in collaboration with Josella Porto

Regia di: Giuseppe Fiorello

Casting director: Maurilio Mangano, Armando Pizzuti

Costumi: Nicoletta Taranta

Scenografia: Paola Peraro

Musiche: Giovanni Caccamo, Leonardo Milani

Montaggio: Federica Forcesi

Fotografia: Ramiro Civita

Produttore esecutivo: Eleonora Pratelli

Prodotto da: Riccardo Di Pasquale and Eleonora Pratelli

Produzione di: Iblafilm e Rai Cinema

In associazione con: Silvio Campara (Golden Goose and General Life)

Stranizza d’Amuri is a film loosely inspired by a news story from 1980 concerning the murder of two teenage boys from the province of Catania. The crime marked a turning point in the perception of homosexuality in Italy. The boys’ lifeless bodies were found in the countryside, beneath a pine tree. Both had been disfigured by gunshot wounds. What remains most vividly remembered is that they were discovered holding hands, as though they had promised to stay together forever.
At the time, newspapers referred to the case simply as the murder of “two boys.” Most national dailies devoted only a brief paragraph to the story. What appeared to have been a profound and courageous love was reduced to a few lines of reportage. The investigation was swiftly closed, and no one was ever charged with the crime. The only suspect identified during the inquiry was a minor relative of one of the victims; he was later released due to insufficient evidence. The urgency to tell this story stems from the desire to restore dignity to two young lives brutally taken by hatred and prejudice. Their story has long been buried in silence and indifference.

Stranizza d’Amuri