It is in their dualism, both physical and psychological, that the Femminielli, an ancient figure in Neapolitan popular culture, live their daily lives, feeling both women and men at the same time. Strongly integrated in the social fabric in which they live, they depend on it, as only within it can they express themselves freely, often representing a spiritual and religious point of reference for the community.
The figure of the Femminielli, like a modern Don Quixote, fight against the change brought by time and global influences, the result of a modernity that appears to no longer need them. The new paradigms arising therefrom engulf everything however, many secular traditions tied to this figure, like the Marriage of the Femminielli, the Birth Giving ceremony or the Pilgrimage to Montevergine, still survive. A journey between the sacred and profane, in the hope that as long as Naples exists, the Femminielli will live on.

Director's note

The mood of the documentary often verges on the surreal, because of the situations described, the people portrayed, and the lively hues that characterize the photography. Through the spontaneity of the characters and the shooting techniques, this surreal atmosphere comes with a sense of truth. As opposed to how the story of Naples is often told, this rendition conveys its colorful and life-affirming sides, that integrate people by adapting them to its peculiar context.