This Italian drama follows middle-aged Felice as he returns to his hometown of Naples after forty years away as he rediscovers the city, people and how things have changed and also stayed the same. As the story of why he left as a teenager slowly unfolds it takes in religion, street/criminal gangs, youth culture, his now-aged mother and his long-lost childhood best friend along the way, as the past ripples through to the present day. It is a slow, pensive film that has a gentle wistfulness as it explores the less glitzy/touristy everyday side of the city and does not shy away from ag and decay, with the poignant juxtaposition of flashbacks and the older Felice - especially in the same locations - often used to great effect. Pierfrancisco Favino gives a haunted performance of depth that is absorbing to watch, as he tries to reconcile events of the past with the realities of the present day and the future he desires. The ending is artfully constructed and has real impact, rounding off this thought-provoking and deeply heartfelt film.
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