Passion

Released Jun 22, 2011

1 hr. 30 min.

Documentary

List

89%

38 Reviews

Tomatometer

63%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

Actor John Turturro examines the musical culture of Naples, Italy, in this documentary. Arguing that the city's music has been influenced by its many residents and invaders, from the ancient Greeks to American troops occupying the country after World War II, Turturro presents musicians performing both old and new material. Among the artists are sultry singer M'barka ben Taleb, and saxophonist James Senese, whose Italian mother and unknown black American father equally inform his work.

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aurora a

A very enjoyable documentary about the music of Naples infused with plenty of that passion that the title suggests. It's worth mentioning some remarkable performances - Peppe Barra, Spakka-Neapolis 55, Fausto Cigliano, Pietra Montecorvino - as well as an impressive choreography set on the balconies of an ancient building. And yet, I cannot help but noticing what is not there, like the wonderful voice of Teresa De Sio, one of the brightest gems of Napoli, who I reckon deserved to be included in this otherwise well written love letter to the most sensual of Italian towns.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Mr. Turturro takes us on a tour throughout the city telling us about the diversity in a rich culture that is untypical of Italy, as a whole. Marco Pontecorvo, the excellent cinematographer does an extraordinary job following the director as he explores out of the way places where there is always music in the air.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I just saw this film last night in Cleveland, Ohio for the start of the Italian film festival. For my wife and I we both found it very beautiful and emotional. Possibly, in order to appreciate this film one must have a profound understanding of the Italian's of the past and of the present IN Italy. Not of what America has portrayed in film's or what has been served on a plate in so called Italian restaurants. If, one does not feel any emotion Just from being in Italy then you cannot truly understand the beauty of the music in this film. The film is an illustration of the origin of many cultures. A evolution in this part of the world that expresses the emotions of daily life in song Primarily through the human voice. Blending voice with instrument's creating a beauty of sound Only people of that origin understand. I am one 1st generation Italian born of Sicilian's that share that common thread. I guess I would say shame on you if you are also of Italian decent and could not appreciate the Music of my originating homeland. Ignorance has become a normal attribute in society today. Especially, here in America. But, let me keep it focused to the Italo-American's who only know Italian as what America has on the label's of store shelves, restaurant names and neighborhood's. Not all people including some Italian's understand themselves. Italian's are passionate emotional beings. This is the root of Italian history. These are the main ingredient's in all Italian art, food, fashion, architecture, literature, and yes.... MUSIC. Maybe, I take the rotten tomatoe review personally. However, this would not be true since I am very in touch with my history then what is marketed to be Italian. So, in my opinion and I know it is my opinion, one must feel the connection to the spirit of the message of John Turturros's film. Understanding, however, to not be a part of the rotten tomatoe throwing group of ignorant's you must dig deep. Go there, learn about the people of yesterday and today. Absorb the environment without the rushing as we know it. Immerse onself in the true fashion of what is Italian and not as what is placed before us. Until, one can understand this and more then you are the rotten tomatoe for not educating yourself. So, until you can make this film through a heartfelt educated perspective keep your rotten un-informed ignorant opinion's to yourself.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An act of love for Naples.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

John Turturro takes us on a tour of the Naples music scene, where a melange of influences---from opera to Arabic music to American jazz/pop of the 1940s (brought in by G.I.s during WWII)---blend together to create a unique musical atmosphere. Almost entirely built around full length music-video style performances, it's more a variety show than a documentary. Entertaining, but your actual rating will depend on how well you like the performers.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

http://www.clevelandmovieblog.com/2011/11/passione-november-4th-and-5th-at.html

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

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John Turturro

Director

John Turturro

Self

Max Casella

Soldier

Massimo Ranieri

Self

Mísia

Self

Pietra Montecorvino

Self

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Joe Williams

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Turturro creates the sense that music spews spontaneously from the average Neapolitan and limits the film's educational quotient. But as anyone who has been to Naples knows, you don't go there to learn but to live, out loud.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 9, 2011

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

It's a happy ramble through the storied streets with Turturro as our guide, not pretending to be an expert; it's more like having a good friend take you to this place he really loves.

Rated: 3.5/4

Dec 1, 2011

Full Review

Ty Burr

Boston Globe

Close to the sublime, especially if you have a thing for sensuous Italians of either gender unleashing ballads of soaring romantic masochism.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 25, 2011

Full Review

Stephen Saito

Moveable Fest

Passione" succeeds at being as entertaining as its subject matter, replicating the "avalanche" of sound.

Jan 9, 2019

Full Review

Pat Padua

DCist

...the kind of multi-genre mix tape that comes from an omnivorous musical palette. Yet all of it is Neapolitan, from a region that contains multitudes, and whose voices are raised, if not in unison, in harmony.

Aug 30, 2018

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: B

Jan 14, 2013

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Synopsis

Actor John Turturro examines the musical culture of Naples, Italy, in this documentary. Arguing that the city's music has been influenced by its many residents and invaders, from the ancient Greeks to American troops occupying the country after World War II, Turturro presents musicians performing both old and new material. Among the artists are sultry singer M'barka ben Taleb, and saxophonist James Senese, whose Italian mother and unknown black American father equally inform his work.

Director: John Turturro
Distributor: Abramorama
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Italian
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 22, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 11, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $258.2K