Italy’s ‘The Boy With Pink Pants’ Is Biggest Local Hit of 2024,’ Beating ‘Wicked,’ ‘Gladiator 2’

As a film enthusiast who has spent decades immersed in the rich tapestry of global cinema, I must say that “The Boy With Pink Pants” is a rare gem that stands out from the crowd. Having witnessed countless films, some with big budgets and star-studded casts, it’s truly heartening to see a film like this, which relies on its emotional depth and storytelling prowess rather than special effects or a familiar IP, resonate so profoundly with audiences.

Emphasizing the impact of hometown narratives, Italy’s movie industry has been shaken by “The Boy With Pink Pants,” a poignant production from Margherita Ferri that recounts the heart-wrenching true events surrounding a 15-year-old boy who tragically ended his life after facing bullying at school and online.

Made and entirely funded by Tarak Ben Ammar’s production company, Eagle Pictures, “The Boy in Pink Pants” has triumphed over Italian audiences, generating over €8.5 million ($9 million) from 1.3 million ticket sales since its release on November 7th. In terms of box office success, it has outperformed major Hollywood films like “Wicked”, “Dune Part 2”, “Gladiator 2”, and “Venom 3”.

Bypassing extravagant visual effects, an enormous ensemble, or a well-known intellectual property, “The Boy With Pink Pants” touched hearts nationwide and turned into a cultural sensation. Typically, European films achieving such mainstream acclaim are either comedies or kid-friendly animated productions. However, “The Boy With Pink Pants” is a dramatic film delving into the true tale of Italy’s first publicized incident of online bullying that culminated in a minor’s suicide.

16-year-old Samuele Carrino, a promising Italian actor, portrays Andrea Spezzacatena, a character who tragically ended his life in 2012. His mother, Teresa Manes (played by renowned Italian actress Claudia Pandolfi from “Siccità”), has since then devoted herself to advocating for anti-bullying campaigns. She played a significant role in the making of the movie, which is inspired by her book about her son’s ordeal, with the screenplay written by Roberto Proia.

The film explores themes of teenage turmoil, bullying, and widespread intolerance, set against the backdrop of a high school in Rome. It follows Andrea, an intelligent and stylish teenager who boasts straight A’s and a knack for singing, as he navigates a new school while dealing with his parents’ separation and attempting to form friendships.

Yearning for acceptance, Andrea strives in various ways to win over a stylish and admired peer, Christian (Andrea Arru). Their relationship gradually develops into a complex, potentially harmful bond. A laundry mishap that turns his red trousers pink serves as the spark for school bullying to worsen and the establishment of a Facebook page filled with ridicule and homophobic slurs – a reality Andrea will unfortunately learn about before taking his own life. Despite its somber themes, the film manages to present a hopeful undertone throughout its narrative.

Ben Ammar shared with EbMaster that the movie was intended to be a joyous tribute to life. Originally, Eagle distributed the film across 380 screens, but after receiving numerous excited calls from theater owners, they expanded to 550 screens in the following week. Recognizing that something extraordinary was unfolding, they adjusted their release strategy to match the screen count of ‘Gladiator 2’.

There’s been a massive turnout of teenagers and their families, who keep returning to watch the tale of Andrea,” he explains. “The repeated business is off the charts, with many teens having watched it nearly five times each.

The movie made its debut at the Rome Film Festival, and Manes, alongside Pandolfi and director Ferri, have been instrumental in bringing attention to the film within mainstream media outlets, engaging with younger audiences, and increasing awareness about school and online bullying during screenings held throughout Italy. Additionally, Ben Ammar notes that social media has played a significant role in raising the movie’s profile, as it has gained widespread popularity, even becoming a viral phenomenon.

The movie is incredibly moving, with an ending that’s so touching it prompted teens to create a TikTok challenge on their own, where they share videos showing their emotions ‘before’ and ‘after’ watching the film. Unsurprisingly, this trend has gone viral and continues to do so. As for “The Boy With Pink Pants,” it will be screened until the end of May, primarily in school settings.

Moved deeply by the effect the movie has made in Italy and the heartfelt messages she received, Pandolfi shared an emotional video on her Instagram account on November 10th.

Ben Ammar, head of Eagle Pictures – Italy’s leading independent distribution company due to partnerships with U.S. studios – highlighted that “The Boy With Pink Pants” not only surpassed Hollywood films but also contended with formidable Italian rivals such as Paolo Sorrentino’s “Parthenope.” Furthermore, it has even outperformed Matteo Garrone’s refugee drama “Io Capitano,” which represented Italy in the Oscars and was nominated for ‘Best International Feature Film,’ by doubling its box office earnings.

Thanks to the success of “The Boy With Pink Pants,” Eagle has climbed to the top spot among independent film distributors in Italy this year. Across the board, however, they rank second to Disney, with Warner and Universal trailing behind.

We’re overjoyed by the success of ‘The Boy With Pink Pants’, as it helps shape a more compassionate society. Possibly, we’ve prevented one or several young lives from being at risk because the story encourages adolescents to seek help when needed and speak up against harassment. Moreover, it fosters empathy among them. Ben Ammar expresses this sentiment, sharing his experiences of young theatergoers approaching the actor, hugging him tearfully, and seeking comfort from Andrea’s mother, Teresa. He finds it heartwarming. Notably, Ben Ammar also shares that he recently hired Andrea’s younger brother, now 21, to work at Eagle.

Ben Ammar, inspired by the triumph of the movie, expresses his desire to establish a division within Eagle, dedicated to creating and distributing films appealing to younger demographics.

Contrary to what some might believe, we’re not just about TikTok and Netflix. When a movie resonates with us, we’re quick to head to the cinemas,” I’ve noticed. For instance, the recent successes of Gilles Lellouche’s romantic film “L’Amour Ouf” (“Beating Hearts”) and this year’s French box office champion, “A Little Something Extra,” a social comedy focusing on characters with disabilities, have proven this point. Interestingly, Eagle has secured the Italian remake rights for “A Little Something Extra.

Title “The Boy in Pink Pants” features Sara Ciocca portraying Andrea’s closest confidante, while Corrado Fortuna from the series “My Name is Tanino” takes on the role of Andrea’s dad.

2024-12-18 20:19

Italy’s ‘The Boy With Pink Pants’ Is Biggest Local Hit of 2024,’ Beating ‘Wicked,’ ‘Gladiator 2’

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