In Naples the term femmenèlla or femminiello refers to a homosexual male with feminine expressions. A reality that hides very ancient historical origins and that, not by chance, developed in Naples, a city that has always been able to be a laboratory of tolerance and acceptance. In the younger generations, however, we are now witnessing the dual phenomenon of enculturation, whereby some of those who in the past would have called themselves "femminielli" today call themselves, if anything, "trans." Lack of ideological support within the community creates fertile ground for the emergence of misunderstandings within the family environment, and trans Neapolitans often see themselves marginalized within their own families. This reality is seen through Alessia Cinquegrana, born as Giovanni, 29, the first trans bride in Italy, and Alessandro, 25, an actor and drag queen, an activist in the Neapolitan LGBT world.

In 19th-century Italy, Giacomo Leopardi channels his debilitating illness and isolation into poetry.

Set in the 1790s, this historical drama follows the travails of an idealistic noblewoman who helps lead a daring revolution in Italy.

Five Neapolitan directors depict life in the city under the shadow of Mount Vesuvius for this anthology film of comedy, drama, surrealism, and political commentary.

Vittoria Belcastro, a Calabrian oncologist, telis of her long battle against cancer, which she won. Her therapy is based on respect for life, but also for the disease. Two literary testimonies serve to counterpoint her touching words: "Pozzi d'amore (Wells of Love)", a theatrical monologue by Enzo Moscato, the portrait in which fragments the rhythm of the film, and "In alto a sinistra (Top left)", the transposition of a tale by Erri De Luca, in which the themes of pain, memory and absence emerge from the story of a father-son relationship.

A surreal travel drama, shot on Sicility with Italian actors. IlViaggio Clandestino is a film about saints and sinners. Whether you areblessed or doomed is often dependent on someone's soul that on whether theypray or suffer. The kindred spirit of San Gil ! the Holy Gil ! is CiccioBavaria who, unilke the former, continues to seek sin. For Bavaria sin isliberating and dynamic. The film tells the story of the journey made by thesetwo protagonists; a journey that leads to the demise of San Gil, while Bavariais reincarnated as Buddha. There is another traveller, a clandestinetraveller. Christ, always fleeing the angels. This Christ does not helphumanity with miracles, but by keeping himself alive as best he can givingweather forecasts.In this strange sainty story, Ruiz allowed himself ot be inspired byapocryphal books about saints of flesh and blood.

This high-energy three part comedy has a strong undercurrent of melancholy, as it shows three different women coping with difficult situations which are usually sexual in origin, even if the moment of romance is long past. In the first tale, Aurora has gotten used to a cozy, wealthy life, but begins to see her world destroyed when her husband is caught in bed with his secretary. Later, he flees the country to avoid getting arrested for something else he has done. Carmela is just welcoming her wayward son back to their slum home after he has spent a stint in "reform" school. Not only has he just confessed to her that he's gay, but he has become a heroin addict.Finally, Libera works at a newsstand outside of Naples as the sole breadwinner for her family. She is tired of her husband lounging in their house when he is not out tomcatting around with prostitutes, and decides to do something about it. So she secretly has him filmed in bed, and is marketing the tapes at her newsstand.

Mario Martone films the eponymous stage show by Enzo Moscato.

Naples, 1959. Pure Mathematics professor Renato Caccioppoli, Bakunin's grandson, is a tortured soul. Recently discharged from the psychiatric hospital, left by his wife, and increasingly disillusioned with academia and the Communist Party, he lives his last days with painful detachment.