Heads or Tails? | Testa o Croce?
Director | Alessio Rigo de Righi, Matteo Zoppis
Presented by Rialto Channel 39
The most exciting revival of the Italian western genre since Sergio Leone (Once Upon a Time in the West).
Heads or Tails? is one of my personal must-see films in our curation!
2025 | 116 min | Western | Italy | Italian with English subtitles
CAST | John C. Reilly, Peter Lanazni, Alessandro Borghi, Nadia Tereszkiewiz
Set in Italy at the beginning of the 20th century when Italians were still fascinated by the myths of the Wild West.
John c. Reilly as Buffalo Bill is a likeable showman who caricatures cowboys for Italian aristocrats. Like Once Upon a Time in the West it is driven by a female protagonist, Rosa (played by French star Nadia Tereszkiewicz). Rosa falls in love with the skilful stablehand, Santino, played by Alessandro Borghi. Santino is handsome, heroic and brave and, in a comic inversion, he’s portrayed as eye candy for our heroine.
When Santino is accused of murder they on on the run. Beautiful cinematic sequences are followed by moments of unexpected magical realism. Filmed entirely on lush, celluloid film with an artful sensibility that makes the most of the stunning Italian landscapes.
A spectacularly photographed, wittily written, romantic Western
Carlos Aguilar, The Playlist (Cannes 2025 Review)
WINNER
Best Film, Melbourne International Film Festival
WINNER
Best Directors, Tokyo International Film Festival
WINNER
Jury Prize, Festival du Film Italien de Villerupt
WINNER
Jury Prize, Fabrique du Cinema
Premiered
Un Certain Regard, Cannes Film Festival