At this point, Nostalgia switches gears from a vicarious travelogue to a crime drama. After some time reacquainting himself with Naples, Felice decides to bring his wife from Cairo and live out his days in the place of his birth. This necessitates him to deal with the ghosts of the past he has not yet addressed. While his departure from Naples is shrouded in mystery, it’s clear that it had something to do with his boyhood best friend and companion, Orestes Spasiano (Tommaso Ragno). When Felice inquires about Orestes, people show raw fear and tell him not to ask.
Nostalgia regia di Mario Martone. Produzione MAD Entertainment. Fotografie di scena Mario Spada
“…nothing short of stunning.”
Felice eventually learns that Orestes has become a murderous criminal overlord known only as “Badman.” The only connection to Orestes he can find is a priest named Padre Luigi Rega (Francesco Di Leva). Father Luigi begs Felice to stop seeking out Orestes, but he persists, knowing that he must settle things in order to live in Naples. While we still see Felice enjoying life with Father Luigi’s closest friends and congregation, the story turns dark when Orestes hears on the grapevine that Felice is in town. Orestes sends a man to fetch Felice and meets with him to ask him what the hell he is doing back.
Typically film is considered a director’s medium, but Nostalgia belongs to cinematographer Paolo Carnera. The footage of Felice rediscovering Naples is nothing short of stunning. Martone wisely understands that he has three resources that other filmmakers do not: Carnera’s eye, Favino’s ability to quietly emote with no wasted motion, and a city that is heartbreakingly beautiful to behold. Layering the gangster drama on top of that might have been a distracting afterthought, but the filmmaker maintains the balance with skill and grace. Viewers feel the desire to go to Naples just as Felice does. So, go rent a scooter and fly down cobbled streets with the wind blowing the sins of the past away.
For screening information for Nostalgia, visit the Breaking Glass official website.
"…fly down cobbled streets with the wind blowing the sins of the past away."
