Passione (2010)

A look at the musical roots and traditions of Naples, Italy, as well as its influence on the rest of the world.

Director:

John Turturro

Stars:

John Turturro, Max Casella, Riccardo Ciccarelli

3 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
John Turturro	...	Himself
Max Casella	...	Soldier / Jailor / Lover
Riccardo Ciccarelli
Fiorello
Mina	...	(archive footage)
Angela Luce	...	(archive footage)
Massimo Ranieri	...	Singer
Lina Sastri
Raiz	...	Singer
Sergio Bruni	...	Himself (archive footage)
Peppe Barra	...	Himself
Loredana Simioli
Pietra Montecorvino	...	Singer
Mísia	...	Singer
M'Barka Ben Taleb	...	Singer

Storyline

A look at the musical roots and traditions of Naples, Italy, as well as its influence on the rest of the world.

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Plot Keywords:

naples italy | italy | world war two | mafia | cityscape | 

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Genres:

History | Music

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Italy USA Germany

Language:

Italian English Neapolitan Arabic

Release Date:

22 October 2010 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Passione

Filming Locations:

Naples, Campania, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,377, 26 June 2011, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$258,222, 18 November 2011

Company Credits

Production Co:

Skydancers, Squeezed Heart Production, Madeleine

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color Black and White (archive footage)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #2.23 (2011)

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Soundtracks

'A vucchella
Performed by Enrico Caruso
Song lyrics by Gabriele D'Annunzio, 1892
Music by Francesco Paolo Tosti, 1904

User Reviews

Aptly titled film is a colorful celebration of Neapolitan Music!

This film will inevitably be compared to Wim Wenders' & Ry Cooder's 'Buena Vista Social Club,' and that's a good thing (and perhaps a not-so-good thing). The comparison gets to the heart of the matter like bright staccato phrase, pointing the reader to an awakening of an older (and sleeping) musical tradition, one influenced by numerous other traditions. The not-so-good? Some viewers will remember the fuzzy focus and the hand-held chaos of parts of BVSC, the parts that made some people sea-sick. Worry not - 'Passione' is a film that benefited from much more planning than Cooder & Wenders had time for, so there will be no nausea in the aisles.

Using the many-faced city of Naples as a whole other character, John Turturro shows his love of the many styles of music found there with sweeping vistas and color-drenched intimate closeups of dancers and lovers and people on the street.

The audience is introduced to the sons of Naples' original recorder of music, who captured sounds around the turn of the 19th century on wax cylinders. Along the way through an almost-aimless dance in the cobbled streets of Napoli, we learn of the many influences benefiting old Neapolitan music - African, Spanish, French, and even jazz. It will be all you can do to keep yourself from leaping out of your seat to dance...

I can't wait for this to come out on DVD - what a blast it was to see it opening night at CineQuest this year!