New York City holds a very special place in my heart. I spent a couple of weeks there a few years ago, and it wasn’t enough to capture all of its beauty, but New York Rhapsody does a damn near perfect job trying to so.
New York Rhapsody follows three artists pursuing their passions in the ever-busy but equally remarkable NYC. The three subjects are a photographer, a musician, and a filmmaker, and director Salvatore D’Alia’s camera is there to capture their passions and daily lives. It is an 11-minute short (excluding credits) that takes you into the always bustling streets of New York and finds beauty in it just about all of it.
“…follows three artists pursuing their passions in the ever-busy but equally remarkable NYC.”
The short is shot in gorgeous black-and-white and is filled with scenes that seamlessly interchange between the lives of the three artists. I do not know much about cameras or photography, but a number of cameras and devices were used to shoot the film. From GoPros to MacBook Pros, and iPad Pros to Cannons, each piece of equipment creates some fantastic, crystal clear shots. I know this might sound like an ad, but I assure you that it’s not. I mention it because the cameras are integral to the film. All of the famous larger than life skyscrapers and landmarks appear throughout New York Rhapsody and are backed by George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.”
There’s absolutely no dialogue in this short, which is a smart move because it really does not need any. It is all about the imagery. As the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” D’Alia’s short can say billions on the strength of any single one of its shots.
What New York Rhapsody is is a love letter to the titular city and the artists that live in it and chase their dreams. It is a great short that reminds us of the many things in life before COVID-19 disrupted it. It is a reminder to appreciate things that you may take for granted, such as the buildings and people you pass by daily without giving it all a second thought.
"…can say billions on the strength of any single one of its shots."
