The Transplanted is a bittersweet feel-good comedy relating to the friendship between two misplaced and opposing characters.
The (un)fortunate meeting between a racist hooligan seeking to get over the failures of his past and a young Italian immigrant trying to integrate, offers fertile ground for creating eccentric and funny situations.
The story’s potential lies in the improbable cohabitation between radically diverse loners. Without realising it, each of them completes the other in an incongruous but efficient way.
From a small Southern Italian city to West Ham, a bustling neighbourhood in East London, the clash of cultures pushes Vincenzo to adapt and eventually help Steve become a better person. In turn, Steve offers Vincenzo a full immersion into a colourful London’s neighbourhood and a glimpse into popular British culture.
Playing with clichés and opposites, my aim is to portray the beauty and gloominess of a multicultural London’s suburb. The contrasts in food, language, dress codes and music will be some of the many components, which will slowly bind this seemingly unmatchable couple. Last but not least, football is a central element of the story.
On the field everybody is equal. But to a racist, ex-professional footballer playing in an amateur Sunday league surrounded by Indian, Pakistani, Iranian, South American and African teammates, this is not necessarily the case. And in the middle of this chaotic and colourful crew, stands a meticulous, frail Italian who has never touched a football in his entire life. Even though they will lose most of their games, the joyful attitude of the team with its multicultural spirit offers Vincenzo and later Steve, the chance to belong to a group.
The neighbourhood and all the locations of the story also serve to emphasise the theme of integration. The football field, the pub, an Indian restaurant or the future multi-ethnic grocery store, are all places where people meet, share and live together. In contrast, Steve’s house is empty, filthy and frozen in time. With the arrival of Vincenzo, Steve’s life will slowly start to change.
By asking the question, “What does integration mean today?”, this almost grotesque and tender buddy movie plays with clichés in a subtle way and aims to give a slightly different answer.
It is not only about integrating in a country, a city or a neighbourhood. It is about connecting with people and making friendships.