PASSIONE

Italy, 2010, 95 minutes, Colour.

John Turturro.

Directed by John Turturro.

Passione is an Italian film but is the work of American actor-director, Jon to Tara. It is a film in praise of Naples and its music.

Throughout the film there are many, many vistas of the city itself, the various neighbourhoods, streets, buildings, churches, shops… And, always in the background, Vesuvius and the mountains. To this extent, the film provides an enjoyable travelogue.

John Turturro comes to the camera, explains what he is doing, his devotion to Naples, especially its music, what it represents, how it is the voice of the people, age-old, despite the difficulties in its history (and references to the Camorra, and a lot of screen footage of Naples during the war and, especially, the liberation by the Americans).

At the end, during the credits, there are photos of the variety of singers as Well Is their names. There is quite a range, men and women, not glamorous stars and singers but rather, the people of the city, strong voices. For those who enjoy music and singing, there is almost an hour and a half of continuous song. For those who are sociologically minded, the film makes a great deal of linking the songs, the lyrics, the singers, to how the city of Naples ticks.

For most audiences, the songs will not be familiar except for O Sole Mio which is heard in a variety of versions. There is also a variety of dancing, Naples as an exuberant city.

John Turturro invites his audience to share his enthusiasm, his zest, and sit back and visit Naples, vistas, dance and, always, song.