Through archival footage, previously unseen testimonies, and a theatrical, surreal staging, the documentary sheds light on the extraordinary artistic and personal journey of one of Italy’s most beloved comedians, Lino Banfi—an emblem of a popular, generous, and self-ironic Italy.

At the heart of the story are two sides of the same man: Lino Banfi and Pasquale Zagaria—his real name—who meet on the stage of an imaginary, timeless theater. Together, they retrace his childhood in Canosa, the years of struggle, pivotal encounters, cinematic success, his love for family, and his television fame, from Stasera Lino to Un medico in famiglia.

Filmed primarily in the magnificent setting of the Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari, the documentary also visits the cities of Andria—where Banfi attended seminary—and Canosa, the town where he grew up and to which he remains deeply connected.