
The Man Who Bought The Moon
2018

2025
Director
Marco Manetti, Antonio Manetti
Runtime
122 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetSynopsis
In Palmi, a small town in Calabria, Don Vincenzo, a genial retired farmer, has a crazy idea to revive the local soccer team by organizing a bizarre fundraiser hiring the Italian major league Serie A, soccer player Etienne Morville, a bad-tempered guy but among the strongest in the world. Albeit unwillingly, Morville leaves Milan to move to Palmi and try to save his image. In the small town he will come up against a reality of sincerity, which will lead everyone on an unforgettable experience.
Overall Score
Fair
Category Breakdown
LGBTQ+ Representation
The film lacks explicit evidence of LGBTQ+ characters or non-heteronormative narratives. It focuses primarily on the communal and sporting life of a Calabrian town. The absence of derogatory tropes maintains a neutral baseline.
Gender Representation
The plot centers on a male-dominated soccer environment and community leadership. However, prominent female cast members suggest a multi-dimensional ensemble. The story may deconstruct rigid masculine archetypes through Etienne Morville's character arc.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
Casting Blaise Afonso indicates an intentional move toward inclusive depictions of contemporary Italian society. Placing diverse characters in Calabria disrupts the trope of the homogeneous Mediterranean village. The plot integrates varied backgrounds through professional sports.
Religious & Cultural Diversity
The narrative critiques urban hierarchies by contrasting Milan with the sincerity of Palmi. It disrupts notions of metropolitan superiority through the athlete's emotional recalibration. The focus on grassroots fundraising prioritizes local solidarity.
Disability Representation
There is no evidence regarding the inclusion of characters with visible or invisible disabilities in the provided details.
Strengths
Areas for Improvement
AI Analysis
U.S. Palmese is a character-driven comedy that prioritizes humanistic values and community cohesion over rigid social hierarchies. It succeeds in disrupting the traditional dichotomy between metropolitan elitism and provincial life, using the soccer setting to bridge these worlds. The film moves toward a more inclusive casting model within a localized Italian setting, specifically through its racial diversity. While it does not engage in radical identity politics, it favors emotional sincerity over the exclusionary structures often found in professional sports. However, the film remains somewhat limited by its focus on traditionally masculine spheres and a lack of explicit representation for LGBTQ+ identities or disability. The narrative architecture is centered on a sports-centric, community-driven framework.

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