Travel enthusiasts are in for a treat with the latest documentary offering on Disney+, which promises to unveil the beauty and historical richness of one of Europe’s most captivating cities.
The streaming platform, already known for its diverse range of documentaries including the awe-inspiring One Strange Rock and the musical odyssey of The Beatles: Get Back, has now introduced a travelogue that combines wanderlust with a dash of history.
Trudie Styler takes viewers on an immersive journey through the iconic Italian city in Posso Entrare? An Ode to Naples, a film that serves as the perfect remedy for the January Blues.
This sun-soaked visual feast pays homage to Naples, a city bursting with culture, stories, and significance in Italy. The documentary also doesn’t shy away from examining the city’s grittier side, delving into its notorious criminal underworld.
Actress and producer Styler navigates the vibrant streets and hidden alleys of Naples with an open heart and eyes, leading to a stunning cinematic experience that has left audiences with a deeper appreciation for the renowned city.
The synopsis encapsulates the essence: “Naples is a city with a reputation. A city of culture, of creativity, but also a city of chaos and criminal neglect.
“This documentary confronts the challenges, intrigues, and complexities of this unique city.
“Allowing the people of Naples to tell their own stories reveals a city of generosity and pride, a city of many shadows now beginning to find its own light.”
La Voce di New York says the film “showcases the beauty, history, art, cuisine, and music of Naples, as well as its challenges and opportunities.”
Their review continues: “Styler’s film is a tribute to a city that has inspired generations of creative minds and captured the hearts of many visitors.
“The film follows Styler as she visits various landmarks, museums, restaurants, and neighborhoods of Naples, and interviews local artists, historians, chefs, and residents.”
The Irish Times described the documentary as offering “brutal truths and blissful sunlit escape”.
They also emphasised the film’s key interview with Italian author Roberto Saviano, who portrays Naples as “the last of the ancient cities”.
“Styler’s film helps that claim stand up as her camera moves through crumbling alleys that remain impressively unaltered since Ingrid Bergman and George Sanders visited for Roberto Rossellini’s Journey to Italy in 1954,” their review adds.
The film has already piqued the interest of some Letterboxd users, though its release on Disney+ will undoubtedly attract more viewers in the coming weeks. “The line about not wanting to give people hope, but wanting to give them certainty will stick with me forever,” one user commented.
“What a gorgeous ode to a city so full of life.”
Another reviewer noted: “I loved Posso Entrare for introducing me to a history and a defiant people for the first time.”
While some have also labelled the film as “shocking” due to its unapologetic portrayal of crime and violence in Naples, it remains to be seen if audiences will be drawn to the city’s gritty underbelly this weekend.
Posso Entrare? An Ode to Naples is now streaming on Disney+.