At the beginning of the 20th century, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show arrived in Rome to sell Italians the myth of the frontier-with blank rifle shots and cowboy spectacles. Against the backdrop of a legendary rodeo contest between American cowboys and Italian butteri , Rosa, the young wife of the local landowner, falls in love with Santino, the buttero who wins the challenge.
After the murder of her husband, Rosa and Santino run away together, but justice, as always, is sold to the highest bidder, and a hefty bounty is placed on Santino’s head. With Buffalo Bill hot on their trail, Rosa dreams of America-the real one, not the one in the posters with bison-but her dream must confront reality. Because like in every true western ballad, fate flips a coin. And often, the truth remains buried underground.
Festival & awards
Cinema Italian Style – Seattle 2025
Cinema Made in Italy – Athens 2025
Denver Film Festival 2025: Special Presentation
Festival de Cannes 2025: Un Certain Regard
Festival do Rio 2025: Expectations
Festival Dolce Cinema 2025: Compétition
Hamburg International Film Festival 2025: Kaleidoscope
Kinomania 2025: Festival del Cinema Italiano
Locarno Film Festival 2025: Piazza Grande
Mar del Plata International Film Festival 2025: Italian Screens
Melbourne International Film Festival 2025: Europe & UK
MittelCinemaFest 2025
Mostra de Cinema Italià de Barcelona 2025
Philadelphia Film Festival 2025: Spotlights
Seminci – Valladolid International Film Festival 2025: Punto de Encuentro
Tokyo International Film Festival 2025: Competition – Best Director
Viennale 2025: Features
Villerupt Italian Film Festival 2025: Compétition – Premio degli Esercenti Cinema