Celebrating ‘ugliness’ - Italian village challenges beauty standards | DW Documentary
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ก.ย. 2023
- "Ugliness is a virtue, beauty is slavery.” This motto is a rallying cry for the people of Piobbico. The picturesque village in central Italy, home to 2,000 residents, is on a mission to challenge beauty standards.
Every year in September, Giannino Aluigi ramps up his campaigning efforts. After all, the president of the "Club dei Brutti” ("Ugly Club") has a reputation to uphold. Founded more than 100 years ago, the association now has some 32,000 members from around the world. Some of them travel to Piobbico every year for the "Festival of the Ugly" - complete with colorful parades, singing, dancing, and feasts.
The undisputed highlight of the event is the contest to crown the ugliest man in Italy. The voting is a lighthearted affair - after all, the point is that nobody should feel discouraged for not meeting the absurdly high and narrowly defined beauty standards of mainstream society. This film unravels a wonderfully quirky story which flits between playful and serious. We also meet "Poldo" Isabettini - left physically and emotionally scarred by a road accident. Poldo is proud to be "Italy's Ugliest Man" and is defending his title in Piobbico. Beyond his sporting ambition, winning the title is a life-affirming tradition.
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I haven't been to Italy but their standards of beauty seems to be quite high as that fellow IS NOT UGLY.
yes plenty of much uglier people in the USA
I’d agree he is actually a pretty handsome dude hahah. What’s wrong with Italians.
well maybe they couldn't find the ugliest man alive in a tiny village huh?
I've been and these people truly are average. I don't see the ugly.
@@honeybunch5765qŕ
Turns out that the "ugliest man in Italy" is a beautiful survivor with a golden soul. People obsessed with beauty miss the beauty that truly counts
As the Little Prince aptly put it, “what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
Well, that is debate-able, since you can't ever see it naturally. The beautiful dont take part in these conversations, they don't need to, confidence is beautiful too
Well said!
Exactly
I don't understand, he's not even that ugly. He's very interesting looking, but look at him in a suit. He could play in a Hollywood film - perhaps some interesting role. Maybe he seemed uglier as a young person but as an older man, he's more similar to other people his age. Someone should tell
The best thing about being part of a club is that brings people together, they feel like they are not alone, they are part of something, and they socialize and celebrate life.
I'm genuinely confused how these folks are ugly 23:20 Italy must have extreme beauty standards compared to USA cause these men would be considered pretty normal and alright by their looks.
These people are not ugly by any means. They are average-looking people or not among the most beautiful.
That was my first thought as well. Most of them look fine. Certainly not models, but I've seen worse imo.
@@tobia5267 So do you think this docu just fishing for compliments because you know .... reversed psychology.
I don't think the documentary is fishing for compliments. Italians just have higher beauty standard because many Italians are very beautiful and handsome. So it's difficult for those who are not conforming to the high beauty standard even though they are not ugly.
where are you living ??@@tobia5267 🤣🤣
i'm in italy the standards is not very high at all. it more natural than in the US
not always based of appereance also
@@nadiajr1500" many Italians are very beautiful and handsome"
y'all should stop believe everything you see on the internet lol
i'm living here in italy they are very average peoples .
of course if you come here only for vacation you gonna believe every beautifull tourist is italian
I think the ‘ugliest man in Italy’ isn’t ugly at all! He has an interesting look. Looking at him is akin to beholding a work of art.
C'mon, let's be honest, none of these people are that ugly. They're just mostly average looking, aging men. Even 'Italy's Ugliest Man', although he has some 'flaws', has a rugged charm that is kind of appealing. I see plenty of uglier people every time I go to the shopping center. Or every time I look in the mirror, come to that.
And I don't even consider myself massively ugly. I'm just an average looking, aging man.
😂🤭
yep, it's sad that we perceive aging as becoming ugly
Most of these guys would look better if they did some exercise, ate more healthily and dressed better. The first guy was unhealthily overweight. Getting fat is not the natural look of an ageing man.
Beauty is subjective, the true beauty is having a good heart.
And most in 'civilized' societies have non!
All the people want beautiful people to make love to have beautiful babies
Anyway they dong glorify ugliness but they make fun of it
Is it? Sooo, You think a rotting carcass is "Beauty" where as a Waterfall in a Tropical Jungle, is "Ugly" ?
Beauty is 1000% REAL, and not something "made-up" due to your personal preference. That's call "Attraction". Beauty, has almost nothing to do with Humans, except that, you can Articulate Why.. Well, maybe not you. A Tiger, is Beautiful, has a "Good heart" for her cubs, but would literally Eat your face off. Your preferences are subjective. Not Reality.
You need time to get to know people..or individuals.. eventually there so called initial beauty or ugly...may fade away to reveal a relationship or friendship..or what you just get used to one way or another...
They don't have any botox, plastic or an ounce of narcissism and that is not ugly.
I love the positivity and humour people have in this video. People asking for an "ugly membership" and to be rated cracked me up. So many would break down in tears to be called physically ugly but they take the power away from those opinions.
I kinda want to live in this town 😂 seems like a fun place.
I don't believe anybody is ugly on earth . Just everyone is different in appearance.
I think the same way. I don't think I've ever seen a person, from first impressions, who I would consider ugly. Once they open their mouths and something horrible or hateful comes out, that's when I can see ugliness. Or if they speak and act with kindness, that's when I see beauty.
symmetry, hygiene and health is an indicator of good looks but stoicism, virtues and morality is an indicator of good character
I'm moving there right now. These are my people, I belong with them!!!
Take me with you haha
I'm in
road trip!
Can I join?
This documentary reminds me my past experience with my ex who used to be so nice. I loved not only his personality but also his appearance, every part of his face, making me feel like he was the most handsome boyfriend. After some time, we had an intense argument leading us to break up, he threw me heartless words. Then I suddenly realized how ugly he was. My affectionate feeling on his appearance was caused by his kind personality, but once the way he treated me turned abusive, it was almost impossible to think his was still handsome. I learned outer beauty comes with inner beauty...
What
Yeah they always try to trick you into believing they're something else, then you say no or disagree and here comes the abusive rage tantrum. A guy called me "a yellow toothed B" the dentist says my teeth aren't very yellow decades later when i considered a bleaching. Either way, if that's the best insult and your true feelings then i must be quite lovely 😂
@@pinku4419Basically your personality can somewhat determine your attractiveness.
Yea that's how I see my ex. He's not conventionally attractive and now he's just totally ugly to me cause he was just such a selfish terrible person.
That's what happened with me too. But after sometime I came to a conclusion that everyone is beutiful and it just depends how we perceive them to determine whether they are ugly or not.
It is just human nature.
Same thing can be said in different situation like for example I used like someone, to me they were most beautiful person at that time but once when I actually had them they didn't seem to be much interesting anymore.
After all this I am came to a conclusion, more like a principle by which I would live, that all human beings are beutiful.
They’re not even ugly 😂 what’s wrong with the world that calls them ugly? But this is such a positive thing to have. Wish they had this in Asia, where people are so toxic and bully anyone who isn’t perfect.
yeah..agreed
People commenting that none of the people in this documentary are all that ugly are kind of missing the point. Everyone is insecure about their looks from time to time, but by reclaiming the word "ugly" and being proud of our flaws we let go of the power that those insecurities have over us. Not taking our beauty - or lack of it - so seriously is liberating. We all turn ugly in the end, after all.
We all know that placing so much value on something so transient and based on nothing but luck is shallow and harmful. But so often our reaction of saying "everyone is beautiful!" does nothing to help people who are intelligent enough to know they're not the typical ideal of beauty.
Instead, saying "Yes, you are ugly! And so am I, and so is she and so is he. Now let's have a drink." can be so much more helpful. It shows that, truly, beauty is not the most important thing if you are a fun person to be around.
By celebrating ugliness/lack of beauty, they turn our attention to the beauty of their souls - embracing their vulnerabilities with joy, gratitude and heaps of humor ❤😊the world is more beautiful with "ugly" people like them. Bravo Ugly Club! Bravo DW for this touching documentary 👏 ❤
I have always found societies version of "beautiful" people boring and unappealing, especially those with vain cosmetic surgeries. I much prefer faces with genuineness and character. We all have our own unique beauty and should were it with pride! The truly ugly people have cold hearts, not imperfect features!!!
If only society (everyone else in the whole world) embraced vulnerable people with joy, gratitude and heaps of humor.
not one of those guys is ugly. what a wonderful place, Italy!
What a fascinating and wonderful documentary. We could definitely use a club like that here in America.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!
then everyone would win
This is a crazy idea with lots of discrimination and labeling, it is a primitive animalic criterion that should not be used to evaluate a human being.
I'm tired of seeing more and more average-looking actors on TV and in movies in the US right now as a result of this kind of movement. I'm average-looking myself but when I watch entertainment I wanna see beautiful people. Hong Kong entertainment was huge in Asia in the 70s-90s because they had lots of charismatic and good-looking actors and actresses. The point rather should be "be comfortable with yourself no matter what other people think". And watch entertainment for entertainment.
@@farishope6540what wrong with ugly people having a club? Beauty pageants shouldn’t exist by your logic.
I love the Italian people, they have great senses of humor and value things beyond the typical western ideals. It’s a beautiful country with beautiful people
Let the record show: none of these people are actually ugly, they’re simply not supermodels. But whom among us are? Very, very few
So heartwarming when the current president went into the village chapel to pray for everything to go well. I actually think the ugliest guy who had an accident is still quiet handsome. When you get to know someone and see what's in their heart is what makes them beautiful or ugly.
That gianfranco guy isnt ugly he looks like a nice older man with a nice smile
It's okay to be considered ugly... beauty fades away eventually ❤
Yeah, if you're ageist and automatically think old=ugly. I've seen good looking old people and not good looking old people. Some people are just beautiful/handsome and always will be no matter their age. If you can look past their age. I have a female teacher who's old and I can tell she's beautiful. She has pretty shaped eyes, a nice face shape and round cheeks that help add fullness to her face. She's covered in wrinkles, but that doesn't suddenly blind me from what's beautiful about her.
Not really though ... I've seen plenty good looking grandma and grandpa's
you can tell when someone was gorgeous in youth, even in old age you can differentiate the beautiful from the average , at least i can
@@alinajustme11 Those are exceptions. Most people are finished after 65.
if you don't take care of yourself it fades, I've seen many old people who look better than 90% of the population
My bf is old with wrinkles gray hair uneven skin hairy but he's still hot to me. I saw a picture of him when he was younger and he has the same features just not yourhful anymore. Beauty is so much more than age for sure. Personality and charm definitely changes a person's looks too
Can I say... beautiful documentary?
Yes, you can say it!
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. There are many beautiful people that are empty, no personality,selfish, and nothing to offer as human , and there are others none attractive people that are very charismatic . Physical beauty goes away, personality last 😊
A festival for me? How sweet of all of you.
(*Cries on the inside*)
I'm nearly 30, I've only had 2 but great relationships, I've never had sexual intercourse, and still looking for that special person with whom to share the rest of my life with.
The best thing about not being incredibly attractive, is that you don't have the background noise that being popular consequently comes with, therefore, you have time and space to improve yourself, think of people as you'd want others think of you, give importance to what matters.
Beauty is but a second in the years of our lives, but your soul, your mind is forever from the day you gain conscience, to the day you lose it.
Enjoy others for who they are, not only how they look.
I'm considered attractive but i never had a girlfriend because i have health issues and i feel i just can't have intimate relationships. I just can't until maybe they will cure me. I've also suffered a lot for the condition ,and not many know it.
@@leonardo2108 What is your condition, if you don't mind me asking?
@@HeathBlythe i'm not going to share this. But just go on and think about your wellbeing in general, and good things will happen.
I think it also goes the opposite way. Being born unconventionally pretty pressures others to seek and sometimes be obsessed with surgery/cosmetics.
I would rather be part of a gang of honest and kind people regardless of how they look than to be with fake cold people with nothing but just some sharp features.
Calling themselves "ugly" is a bit extreme - they are just getting Old / Older - (which you cant help) - and maybe they are just in denial about Old Age in their own lives.
Exactly. They are just either disabled or they look older bc their skin is sun damaged for all the hard work they've done in life. Which has nothing to do with ugliness, lol.
He is a short man by European standard, so I understand what he means as "ugly"
Wow! Half an hour has passed really fast! I love your documentaries and have picked two of them for my master's projects.
So weird,was having a conversation with someone last night about unrealistic body standards, I said personally I find when a person looks unusual it's interesting.
Influencers, social media, celebrities, Hollywood, history, capitalism and colonialism. 😁💞💓💭😈
I agree with you. I find I only remember faces when they are interestingly different. Perfectly symmetrical people don’t lodge in my memory, which has caused some awkward moments.
Easy to say such things but for people who've been told.....in so many ways that they're not attractive, there's pain.
@@UATU.I have exactly the same problem and agree 100%. To me natural blondes and black people are the worst. I don't remember my neighbors faces and need to say good morning to everyone hanging around their house 😅 they're too symmetrical and normal to remember them
Italians can't be ugly even when they try. Love this!!!
This video is heartwarming and touching! What an amazing bunch of people
This is beautiful, thank you!
There are no ugly people in this video.
Agreed. They are the opposite
Italians are one of the most handsome and attractive-looking people in Europe, this is utter nonsense.
Maybe not, but very normal looking?
@@romeob.8369how about romania? Finland? And Uk?
@@Agent-ie3uv Depends on the eating habbit, Italians are mostly slim people, unlike for instance Americans where almost more than 40% are obese.
I can relate to what these ppl are going through. What is important is in our childhood we should be told we are beautiful, no matter how ugly you are. I was called ugly by my own relatives and sometimes teachers , so I live with that even now, even though I’m an average looking guy now. Over the years I have learned to be confident in my ugliness, just like others are confident in their beauty. Socially I do struggle , like even in a supermarket , where I find it hard to ask for help with anything because I tend to get ignored, so I stopped asking. Ugly people aren’t asking for pity, they’re just asking to be treated equally like everybody else. Few people are nice to them , so when anyone is nice , it is a little hard for them to believe.
Was told the same as a child even today as a 31 year old . Rejection is what I know.
I think so
I actually like when someone is ugly or has scars, it’s distinguishing. I’m all about personality, I like things that are different from the norm. I’m more likely to go after a fat woman with a big nose wrinkles and scars because her life experiences most likely made her a better person than a jaded pretty girl who got things handed to her by pretty privilege her whole life, those girls might be pretty but it’s hard to find a nice one. I have experienced both sides myself, I was always skinny and pretty but when I was about 30 I was on a medication that made me gain crazy weight, I weighed 350 pounds at my biggest and have since lost the weight but it was an interesting experience to go from a girl who always turned heads to a girl who people actively ignored by purposely averting thier eyes as if my fatness would contaminate them, then back again but it was definitely a paradigm shift in my own mind about how this world really is. People who grow up without pretty privilege have to actually develop a personality, they usually are funnier than other people or they develop other skills to fit in that I personally just like and have noticed it more as I have gotten older.
Maybe you are not ignored for your appearance but for the demeanor you put out. Mostly people couldn't care less what you look like, they usually react (consciously or unconciously) to the energy you put out into the world. If that's an insecure or timid one, you obviously won't get noticed
@@samsalamander8147You can still be pretty and have a personality
Someone’s ugly is someone’s else’s beauty
the problem with beauty is that it's fleeting and never lasts. we're all ugly and beautiful in many ways. looks really don't matter as much as the content of you character. that's what's makes someone attractive to me.
The spirit of the "Club dei Brutti" in Piobbico is truly heartwarming. It's a celebration of individuality and a rejection of unrealistic beauty standards. Thank you for sharing this charming and uplifting story.
There is something really boring about the perfection of beauty in the US media. This is enlightening to see.
What an incredible & unique doc.I enjoyed every sec of it. From Dhaka,Bangladesh
Thanks for watching!
If someone calls you ugly, you know they are inside.
Really very funny! All I see on the video are beautiful, noble people. I think this more about fun and togetherness than anything else. You guys are really great.
The "ugliest" man Italy has one of the most beautiful souls and is a survivor. The story beyond the start of the club is heartbreaking though. Beauty is only skin-deep.
The couple at 15:30 are so cute. I dont know how I got to this clip but it was worth watching it. It's a slice of life.
Everyone will be “ugly” at some point in they’re existence
*Their
During one of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, U.S. Senator Stephen Douglas called Abraham Lincoln
"two-faced."
To which Lincoln replied, "I leave it to my audience. If I had another face, do you think I would wear
this one?"
These people aren't ugly at all. Gianfranco is actually very cute, look at his beautiful eyes. They are all fine, and seem nice and friendly people, which matters the most 💗
Not everybody born beautiful, but everybody can be attractive through their character and how they present themselves, and that’s what matters.
The outside is what attracts company, but it’s the inside that keeps them.
This is absolutely amazing!
These people aren't ugly at all! Most are average looking and some much better than average. But, I guess, in Italy, there are a lot of really beautiful and handsome people, maybe that's it.
Everyones beautiful when they smile.
It doesn't matter what you look like on the outside, it's who you are on the inside that counts. A cliché, but still true.
Biggest lie though
This is so funny, the joy that they having being & being in lot got me starting to think ugly is another word for cuteness, this is lovely😄❤❤
Wonderful documentary
I don't see 1 ugly person in the entire documentary. Anna and her husband is a beautiful couple. 😊
Proof again that beauty is only skin deep.
i dunno - I think bones, fat, genes and muscle have a part to play
@@oov55 Don't forget healthy habits like eating right and exercise - it takes discipline to maintain beauty
This is awesome!
Love the documentaries on dw. Amongst the best in the world😊
Beauty comes from the heart. Looks may fade but character will last forever. God created everyone in their own unique beauty.
17:14 that was so sweet 💘
Dear viewers,
This documentary although empowering can be triggering especially for those struggling with issues of appearance and social acceptance. If you or someone you know is suffering from serious emotional strain or suicidal thoughts, do not hesitate to seek professional help. You can find information on where to find such help, no matter where you live in the world, at this website: www.befrienders.org/
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Pin it please
this is incredible!!
Imagine someone unexpectedly being asked if theyre part of the festival😂
A beautiful face can hide an evil mind.
It is tragically sad there are superficial people who would classify, categorize, and ostracize another human being based on their superficial characteristics. Look at the soul, for there is where real beauty exists.
I don’t think any of them are ugly.
You can not talk about documentaries and not mention DW.i love you DW
Thanks for watching and for the support!
I'm definitely going to Italy to see it myself I loved it.
We should not discriminate or anything but I believe beauty is really a thing & it definitely attracts as a human nature.
And how many men have been duped by that attraction and gotten stuck with the monster inside?
It's just biology, really nothing we can do to fight it
Some people would call this "woke". It seems "woke" means being a decent person who's kind to others and believes in body positivity.
No, the woke ideology is that you must find ugly people beautiful, these people are the opposite, they're ugly and proud (not that they're really ugly, just average).
I listened about this club on The This is Love podcast. These are my people.
In Germany we say:" There are no ugly people. Only interesting ones."
Where do I sign up? In in Australia 🇦🇺
A beautiful story, a survivor. He became what he is now because of a mishap and not born with it.
where can i register ?
Imagine coming there as a tourist from another side of the world not knowing about this festival and being voted to be the ugliest. 😮
love it!
Italy is known by some to be the country with the most handsome men. This seems like an incredibly supportive community.
It is Greece tho.
My husband is Italian and he considers himself an average, nerdy looking guy but he's seriously the most beautiful man I've met in my life. He's quite expressive too, which makes him even more adorable to me. I think that's where a lot of attractiveness comes from. Charm and expressiveness.
@@coolbreeze5683 I think many of my generation neglect what is inside the person and jump on the bandwagon of appearance, both men and women. I think it is beautiful when ugly people meet and find love, but then some others of the generation say that they are not worthy which I think is very sad.
@@user-qp5mb2hl6rmen in my age range when I visited Greece were very good looking. Also very friendly and funny. I wasn’t looking for it, but I was surprised.
Of all the tribes I met and come across I find the Italian people the most beautifull. One of my fav bloggers married an Italian woman. I jokingly told my husband I have no chance as she is Italian! I won't compete with the Italian wife!!! Life is beautifull...
This is sad. All those people categorizing themselves as UGLY and feeling bad because of it. Everybody is unique in someway. There is somebody for everybody. One of the most wonderful men I ever met was a little person who barely measured 4 feet tall. He was very intelligent, interesting. Popular and always surrounded by women. He is proof that looks are just part of what makes somebody attractive. He was 75 years old!
I love it when people with poor looks come together to support each other. I have poor looks too.
thank you
I’m not even to be politically correct- but how is he Italy’s ugliest man? He isn’t even ugly objectively. And all these ‘beautiful people’ all have surgical enhancements… let’s be real.
Striking how many of the people attending the festival are really good looking girls. Guess they are tired of hanging out with players.
They are not even that ugly, they look normal tbh
I can't believe someone will go to a survivor of car crash with 20 years of surgeries, and tell him he is ugly
Wow italy is beautiful. 😊
The beauty stands in Italy must be really high. These men aren't even that ugly.
Beauty is in the eye of the Beer holder - because everything looks better after a couple of pints!
true true true
This made me smile so much! I'm looking around, and I'm not seeing any ugly people there. Maybe no supermodels, but beautiful people all the same. We are all made in the image of God, and we are all His children.
Finally a club made for me
He’s not ugly.
Also we mostly can’t change our appearance too much - but what’s most important is your inside.
There are many “beautiful” people that are unbearably ugly on the inside.
Im in italy for 25 years. Listening first time for this festival
I’m not sure being in a festival of the ugly would boost my self esteem.
Awesome
This is a beautiful thing and these are beautiful people!!❤🎉😂😊
This is so much more wholesome way to deal with the hand you've been dealt with in terms of looks and charisma, then the alpha or incel online gurus
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder❤❤❤
Reconsidering now my plan to visit Italy again since I do not want to be invited into that club!
And if these people thought of as ugly were does that leave me??
I hope they normalise shows like beauty pageants, but with "real" people. Where we can celebrate our differences without feeling like we have to reach something that's unattainable
I see attractiveness in them; physically and in their soul; I’m completely baffled on these standards
As a physically unattractive person myself, got to say i don’t think he’s ugly.
You don't look that bad in your picture
@@civilservant9528well its because it was from google image search 😂
@@civilservant9528 You’re not so bad yourself.