Italy, United States, United Kingdom
In a coastal village, three stories of masculine pride unfold: in a local band, musicians compete to outshine one another with their virtuosity; a tourist desperately tries to impress his new girlfriend over lunch; and an amateur ping pong player faces a humiliating defeat at the hands of a young girl. Everything shifts when a young saxophonist decides to break free from the spirit of competition that weighs on the village and play against the flow.
The desire to excel, to be recognised, to dominate, and to impress others is what drives us to seek our place in the world, to feel secure and fulfilled. Yet that same desire can easily turn into an oppressive weight, for ourselves and for those around us. It’s a weight rooted in a patriarchal society that demands, especially from men, to dominate, to perform, to appear flawless, to live in the constant urgency of impressing someone, even ourselves, forcing us to ignore our vulnerabilities and hide our insecurities.
OH BOYS unfolds over three episodes that explore different facets of masculinity, wounded pride, and the longing to be seen, culminating in a fantasy: what would happen if men were truly free themselves from the need to impress anyone?
In a coastal village, three stories of masculine pride unfold: in a local band, musicians compete to outshine one another with their virtuosity; a tourist desperately tries to impress his new girlfriend over lunch; and an amateur ping pong player faces a humiliating defeat at the hands of a young girl. Everything shifts when a young saxophonist decides to break free from the spirit of competition that weighs on the village and play against the flow.
