CinemaOSMovie · 2005 · 1h 34m

Souls of Naples

90%(1)IMDbDocumentary

A portrait of Naples and its inhabitants, in the words of the Neapolitans themselves. Two women gossip about a woman who committed suicide; a man sells tickets for a local tombola; a woman concerns herself about her elderly neighbour. By moving from person to person, the documentary gradually portrays this enigmatic city at the foot of the Vesuvius. James Baldwin once returned a writing assignment about Naples, because he utterly failed to grasp the city. A Neapolitan says: `Naples is a kaleidoscope of thousands of different souls. Their total defines the Soul of Naples.' The leitmotif is Caravaggio's painting Seven Works of Mercy (1607), made for an aristocratic charity that still exists. The documentary mirrors Caravaggio's clair-obscure in its patterns of poverty and wealth. Age-old alleys with subdued light contrast with the glittering chic of a genteel club. Slow aerial shots and poetic texts in voice-over interweave the separate stories.

Directed byVincent Monnikendam

Play
Status
Released
Runtime
1h 34m
Language
NL
Released
August 18, 2005
Studios
Memphis Features

Featuring

Cast & crew

Creative team
Directed by
Vincent Monnikendam
Produced by
Cécile van Eijk
Sherman De Jesus

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