Film: Passione
Cast includes: John Turturro (Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?), Max Casella, Lina Sastri, Sergio Bruni, Peppe Barra
Director: John Turturro (Romance & Cigarettes)
Genre: Documentary/Music (2011) Partly Italian with subtitles
In brief: Welcome to Napoli. John Turturro tells us, “There are places you go where once is enough. And then there’s Napoli.” And we start falling in love with Naples as soon as we see the gorgeous footage and listen to the soundtrack of classical music. But Turturro wants to introduce us to a different kind of music… Napoli’s version of soul … not the kind of soul music we’re used to. Neapolitans love their music. Love, loss, superstition, contradictions and irony… are just a few of the themes of Neapolitan soul. He also tells us that paradox is at the core of the Neapolitan character. “I love you but if I can’t have you, I’ll take your sister.” “I love you and I hate you. But I can’t forget you.” And… everyone sings in the street with reckless abandon… at least in Passione.
Turturro takes us on a musical tour of the city he loves, and we get a taste of the musical heritage that comprises the Neapolitan version of soul. It starts with the Mount Vesuvius and the drama of living on land formed by fire and lava. And then there were the invasions. Naples has been invaded many times over the centuries… all of the invaders leaving behind musical influences. When the Americans invaded at the end of WWII, they too left their mark, which is the final ingredient in Neapolitan soul music. An amazing performance of “Pistol Packing Momma,” is one of the highlights of the film and a real toe tapper.
But don’t expect constant toe tapping. Sometimes Neapolitan soul sounds more like opera than pop music. And don’t expect all the performers to be young, thin and stylish. The Neapolitan character is inclusive, with performers of all ages and dimensions. We may wonder at first what links these musical strands. And it seems that this is the focus of the film. As Turturro draws us deeper and deeper into the musical character of Napoli, we see that the common denominator is passion and raw sensuality. We understand why he says, “For Neapolitans, music is emotional transportation.” At the beginning of the film, you may find it odd to see performers singing their hearts out in the street. By the end, you’ll want to break into song as you leave the theater.
3 popped kernels
Fire and lava… paradox and passion… the soul music of Napoli
Popcorn Profile
Primary Audience: Grown-ups
Gender Appeal: Any audience
Distribution: Art house
Mood: Upbeat
Tempo: Cruises comfortably
Visual Style: Unvarnished realism
Character Development: Not that kind of film
Language: True to life
Social Significance: Informative
