Short film tackles homophobia through Dante's words

Francesca Bruni Ercole's short film "Tanto per gioco" addresses homophobia by drawing on Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy. The narrative centers on a gay couple separated by distance and fear, inspired by a real hate crime. The protagonist identifies with Brunetto Latini, a character Dante placed among the sodomites in Inferno. The film questions whether Latini was condemned for political egocentrism rather than sexuality. It was a finalist in the under-35 university competition at the 13th Festival Dantesco. The short was released on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, observed May 17 since 2004. In Italy last year, at least 148 victims of homophobia were recorded, mostly aged 20–30, according to omofobia.org. The director uses the festival platform to highlight ongoing struggles for sexual freedom.