Like a restless bee looking for the most succulent flowers in a field, Nicola Antonini, this film’s teenage protagonist, buzzes through the streets of Vasto, Italy in search of love and connection.

Sting Like a Bee is a modern take on the almost folkloric courtship practices between the young people of Vasto. Boys like Nicola attempt to gain the affection of the most attractive girls in the town by careening around in a Piaggio Ape, a post-war utility vehicle that became a popular mode of transport for Italians living in steep, narrow places.

Matilde Talia is the young girl who has caught Nicola’s eye. Surrounded by her friends, their conversations and interactions evoke the carefree, summer days of adolescence.

Milanese director Leone Balduzzi enlisted 3D visual effects to capture the dynamics between this real group of gen-z friends using face filters and emoticons. In Italian, "ape" means "bee", which contextualises the pervasive CGI bee that plays havoc aross the screen.

This film is a refreshing visual experience that not only pairs an Italian icon with youth culture but uses music, myth, and mystery to create a world of boundless renewal.