Napoli-New York

Gabriele Salvatores has crafted a delightful film based on a treatment written in their youth by Fellini and Pinelli. They are responsible for the story of Celestina, who, a few years after the end of the war, decides to escape a life of hardship in Naples to reach New York, the promised land brimming with opportunities. The protagonist's coming-of-age story is mirrored in the narrative style, which transitions from the neorealism of the first part to the fairy-tale quality of the second. Salvatores and the cast deliver an extraordinary performance, maintaining the film's delicate balance between drama, comedy, and fantasy. The result is a refined elegance that avoids the saccharine or overly sentimental tones the story could have easily inspired. A significant contribution comes from the impeccable production design and the soundtrack, combining period and contemporary music, which imbues the film with a poetic lightness throughout.