NAPOLI - NEW YORK

Italy, 2024, 124 minutes, Colour.

Pierfrancesco Favini, Dea Lanzaro, Antonio Guerra, Anna Ammirati, Anna Lucia Piero, Omar Benson Miller, Tomas Arana, Antonio Cata

Directed by Gabriele Salvatores.

The setting is 1949, the city of Naples, the poorer neighbourhoods, the still-lasting impact of the war and the German occupation, the freedom of the city, the American presence…

The film has three sections as indicated by the title. The first is Napoli. The second, indicated by the – is the voyage from Naples to New York. The third is New York city itself. And a story of Italian migrants after the war, the poor in steerage – and two young stowaways.

The film has been written and directed by Gabriele Salvatores, Oscar winner in 1991 for his film, Mediterraneo. The credits indicate that the screenplay is based on an earlier working script by Federico Fellini and. It has the flavour of Fellini’s earlier films, more straightforward than his later, highly imaginative work.

After an explosion in the city, little girl, Celestina (a persuasive performance by the very young, Dea Lanzaro) is lived orphaned with the death of her aunt. In the meantime, we are introduced to Carmine (Antonio Where are also very good and convincing), a shrewd orphan, some touches of English, always on the alert for some deals, especially with the Americans – and one extraordinary deal, the cook on a visiting American ship trying to sell a Jaguar cub with Carmine’s help. Which leads to something of a tangle, the two children on the boat as it sets sail – with the Captain, alcoholic, serious about discovering any stowaways but failing, charging his purser, Garrofalo to do with them once they are discovered. The purser is played by popular Italian actor, Pierfrancesco Favini.

In New York, Celestina wants to find her sister who had migrated earlier, Carmine helping, but their being separated. There is the sadness of the little girl wandering the city, finding that her sister is in jail for murder, standing by the quayside and then dropping into the water. On the other hand, Carmine shows some initiative, getting in touch with Garrofalo and his wife, using his influence with the Italian community, especially the local Italian press.

Italian migrants have a long history in the United States and the heritage of their being looked down on continues after World War II. But, there is a vitality within the community, rejoicing when Celestina is saved, bonding together with a feminist group to support Celestina’s sister in her trial, the portrait of the purser and his wife, childless, and the possibility of adopting the two – with a rather tongue-in-cheek ending, a card game, possible cheating, manipulating the outcome of a possible adoption.

An enjoyable glimpse of Naples in New York in the 1940s – but not without its undertones of sadness.

1. The title and expectations, the first part in Naples, 1949, the second part of the voyage across the Atlantic, the third part in New York City?
2. A film of the Italian memory, the experience of World War II, in Naples, occupation, the impact of the Nazis, the Americans, the welcome of the Americans, the effect on the people of Naples in the recovery after years? And bombs exploding, children orphaned, poverty and hunger, gangs and crime?
3. The recreation of Naples in the late 1940s, the poorer areas, slum neighbourhoods, the buildings, the ruins, the streets, the church?
4. The musical score, and the range of popular songs throughout the film, especially American, even West Side Story’s Somewhere?
5. The situation, the bomb exploding, Celestina, her age, injuries to her aunt, the death in hospital, wandering on her own? How mine, his age, selling cigarettes, living on the street, the various cons and encounters? His speaking some English? The situation with George, going to the boat, the baby Jaguar, taking it, selling it, back to the boat, George taking the money?
6. The return to the boat, Carmine wanting to confront George, Celestina, and the later, the boat going, climbing? Their hiding?
7. The Captain, his drinking, checking for stowaways, his demands, relying on Garoffalo, the purser, the scenes of checking, below deck, the refugees, the sick man, his wife, hiding the children?
8. The children hidden, and mine and is initiatives, searching, hiding, there eventually being caught, the reaction of Garoffalo, the captain not wanting to know? Carmine, the situation with the bucket of water, running away, but the two eventually helping, the kitchen, with George, jobs on the boat?
9. Carmine, his plea for medication for the sick man, the man’s death, their bond with his wife, hanging herself? The effect?
10. The challenge to George, Carmine and his testimony, George free?
11. Ellis Island, the children getting lost, getting out, helped by George, the crate and landing, wandering the streets? Celestina, age, initiative, difficulties in language, having her sister’s address, wanting to be with her sister? Carmine using his initiative, questions, the phone book, the address, the information about the sister and her fate? The two being separated? The desperate search for each other?
12. The information about the sister, Garoffalo, with Carmine, going to the prison, the interview with the sister, her murdering the man, her story? The possibility for the death penalty?
13. Celestina, lonely, at the waterfront, the children playing, her disappearance, the rescue, revival?
14. Garoffalo, his influence, the contact with the editor of the paper? The editor, wanting the news, exploitation and influence?
15. Reviving Celestina, Garoffalo and his wife, no children, her tending to the children, enjoying it, the possibility of adoption? Celestina willing? Carmine, his wanting to think, his memories of his absent father, lack of family, wanting his own family when he grew up?
16. The court case, the meetings of the feminists, outside the court, the protests and displays? The editor and his staff, urging them to exploit every situation? In the court, the story, Celestina and her simple story and its effect? The judgement, the sentence? The sisters reunited?
17. The issue of the adoption, the possibilities for the two, that they would be brother and sister and Carmine could not marry Celestina in the future? The proposal for the card game, the whole community involved, spectacle, the two lining up, the observers, and audiences knowing that Carmine could conceal cards and frustrated opponents? Playing with Garoffalo, the cards, Celestina and the concealed cards – and the film ending? Leave it to the audience to wonder what happened – and what the audience would like to happen?