JUST THE THINGS FOR A SUNDAY

 You know, for the only one in this blogging community who doesn't speak Italian, I'm doing an awful lot to support Italy's culture.

Today I watched the third Italian film in a week as part of the Italian Film Festival. Today's offering was Napoli-New York by director Gabriele Salvatore.

It was not too bad or, as Richard would say "it was pretty good".

The year of the story is 1947 and is about two Neapolitan orphaned children - one ten and the other about 14 - struggling to survive in post war Naples and who stow away on a ship bound for New York.

The film made in 2024 is based on a script and film outline created by Federico Fellini and Tullio Pinelli. It does have a bit of Felliniesque character, especially the first half set in Naples. The second half set in a stylised New York has less of the pathos and more of farce with a Wes Anderson character to it.

It's a very emotional film with a feel-good sentiment even if there's a heavy coating of 'rose-tinted glasses' to it in contrasting 'the American Dream' with the reality of post-war European hardship. 

I liked it even if it was a bit disjointed and anachronistic and am thoroughly glad that I saw it. I must track down and rewatch the Fellini films I like.

I'm finishing off the bottle of Villa Maria Reserve Methode Traditionelle I opened last night. This is a stunning New Zealand sparkling and is a cut above other offerings. It is rich and creamy with a great depth of flavour, persistent bead and a nice brioche character. This is due to the fact that it was aged on its lees for 5 years before disgorgement giving it a complexity normally found in Champagne. I'm glad that I bought a case (6) of it and might look to buy some more.