Netflix’s ‘Special’ Proves the Power of Shows Leaving Their Hooks Behind

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentTel-Aviv-based Cinephil, the sales company behind triple-Oscar nominated “Flee,” has snapped up world rights, excluding U.S., to Italian director Nicolò Bassetti’s transgender-themed doc “Into My Name,” which is executive-produced by Elliot Page.UTA Independent Film Group will be handling North American rights. The buzzy doc, which world-premieres at the Berlin Film Festival in the Panorama Documentary section, stems from Bassetti’s personal experience with the gender transition of his child, Matteo.“Into My Name” provides an intimate look at the universal challenges of gender transition by observing a tight-knit group of trans friends in the central Italian city of Bologna. Cinephil managing director Olivier Tournaud in a statement said that he was “immediately taken” by Bassetti’s “sensitive and relatable exploration of the many facets of gender and even more so the love letter from a father to his son.”“Into My Name is timely and spotlights voices that need to be heard; this is exactly the kind of film Cinephil is proud to represent,” Tournaud noted.Bassetti underlined that for him the doc “is a deeply personal project, both as a parent of a transgender son and as a director who has always explored individual paths that show our shared humanity.” “I trust that together with a strong partner such as Cinephil, we can add to the awareness and understanding of trans issues with international audiences,” the director said.The doc’s characters, Nico, Leo, Andrea and Raff — whose ages span from their mid-20s to mid-30s — come from different parts of Italy, and started their gender transition from a female to a male identity at different times in their lives.

Coleen Rooney sent a defiant message as her life was once again back in the headlines.

Manchester United have officially signed Cristiano Ronaldo's son, Cristiano Junior.

A man has told a jury he was duped into carrying two hand grenades away from an alleged drug gang leader's flat.

Neither Manchester United, Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur have the advantage in the race for the top four according to one former Gunner.

If you're in need of a new phone but don't want to splash the cash then this bargain new deal may just be for you.

BBC News presenter Victoria Derbyshire has admitted that she was forced to delete a tweet for breaking BBC guidance on impartiality.The newsreader, 53, took to Twitter to confirm that she had removed the tweet as it didn't meet the BBC's standards.In view of her 163,300 followers, the host announced the reason behind her deleted post.Victoria wrote: "Hi hve deleted a tweet abt crime figs/fraud/computer misuse etc because it didn’t properly meet the BBC’s guidance on impartiality." (sic)Express.co.uk has contacted a representative for the BBC for comment.Earlier in the week, Victoria slammed an MP over crime statistics provided by Boris Johnson.Watching her colleague Sophie Raworth's interview with Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, Victoria didn't hold back as she blasted the Government for "insulting voters".The Business minister insisted Prime Minister Boris Johnson didn't lie about the percentage of national crime figures that had been tackled by the Tories.It comes after the official Twitter account for BBC Politics shared a clip from the interview, showing the "selective" response to the question regarding crime rates.The tweet read: "Why did PM Boris Johnson tell Parliament that Government is cutting crime by 14 per cent when that’s not true?"Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng: 'All I know is that certainly on the doorstep people are saying that there is progress being made.'"Clearly a little confused by Kwarteng's reply, Victoria hit out: "Errrr crime is down if you take out certain crimes??!!"Time to stop insulting voters’ intelligence?" she raged.In the interview, the Business Secretary told Raworth he "didn't know why" she said the statistics were "untrue".He said: "I don't know what the evidence is for it not

An onlooker told Daily Star: “Adele was absolutely loving the event.She was having a great time with friends and loved watching the show.“After the contest was over, she stormed the stage and the crowd went wild.

Celebrated actress Dame Emma Thompson has admitted that the experience of living with both her mother and daughter throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has left her feeling “grateful she can still get up a hill” but “depressed about her thighs”.She spoke about witnessing the ageing process in her mother, while her daughter’s life seemed to be just getting started. In a piece for The Guardian, Emma described the intergenerational connection between all three women, and, in turn, how “existing between” affected her own self-image.Remembering her second Christmas under COVID-19 restrictions, Emma reflected on being “sandwiched” between her 22-year-old daughter, who she shares with husband Greg Wise, and 89-year-old mother.She wrote: “This year, more than ever, the umbilical connection between us tugged at me as I, Janus-in-waiting, observed, monitored and enjoyed the miraculous luxury of three generations together.”The actress went on to discuss the turbulent emotions that come with watching your parents and children get older.“Living between these bodies is an odd mixture of joy and grief,” she admitted.“I exist between them.

Loose Women star Stacey Solomon had been getting to work on decorating the house that she shares with former EastEnders actor Joe Swash.

 Radio 2 presenter Rylan Clark was rushed to hospital, which forced him to pull out of his BBC show for the second week in a row. It is not yet known why Rylan was taken to hospital, but last week, he told his followers he had the flu. The Strictly: It Takes Two host, 33, has since revealed he is now back at home after “an extended stay” and will not be on the radio tomorrow.Sharing a picture of his arm fitted with a cannula, the star confirmed that he was “on the mend”. He wrote: “Finally home after an extended trip to Costa del hospital.Slowly on the mend. “Won’t be on the wireless tomorrow.

Perth city centre traders could be heartened to see a new tenant for the closed Beales/McEwens department store building.

Gangland hitman John Kennedy survived a murder attempt while waiting to go on trial for killing Kenny Reilly.

Raith Rovers manager John McGlynn has asked for a chance to turn things around after signing Clyde's David Goodwillie.

A mum whose toddler died in a blind cord accident has shared her agony, admitting the loss has made her life “empty”.

Ian McDonald, a multi-instrumentalist and co-founder of rock bands King Crimson and Foreigner, has died. He was 75. According to McDonald’s spokesperson, McDonald passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at his home in New York City. Cause of death has not been provided.

La Vie En Rose and Netflix’s The Spy producer Alain Goldman has signed an overall deal with Banijay for TV shows and feature films.

Confident punters are backing Celtic at the bookies to lift their first major European trophy in 55 years this season.

Boris Johnson ending Covid isolation rules is a "distraction" from the PM's lockdown party scandal, according to a Scots health expert.

Special, which has just landed on Netflix, is a tale of two Ryans. There is Ryan Hayes, the main character, a gay intern with cerebral palsy who lives in Los Angeles with his mollycoddling mother.

I’m Special: And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves, Ryan O’Connell’s Netflix series Special depicts a humorous version of the writer’s life as a single gay Millennial with cerebral palsy. Spend time getting to know O’Connell, though, and it’s clear that while he and Ryan Hayes, the character, share many similarities and a favorite expression (“Chic!”), the creator is wiser and far more self-assured than his fictional avatar.The lines blur, O’Connell says, chatting over Zoom ahead of the show’s season two premiere.