Film Society Goes Italian

This week’s feature film presented by the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society is Passion, directed by and starring John Turturro.

The project began when Mr. Turturro was approached with the idea of making a film about Neapolitan music. As an Italian-American who grew up listening to many of the swooning ballads of this he was at first intrigued. The more he explored the genre’s history the more enamored he became.

The result is a documentary in the loosest sense of the word. According to film critic Roger Ebert the film is more like “A happy ramble through the storied streets with Turturro as our guide, not pretending to be an expert.”

The film includes 23 songs which bring to life the history of the region, one which experienced the influence of many invaders, including the Greeks, Arabs, French, Spanish, Normans, and Americans.

The film screens on Sunday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the Katharine Cornell Theatre in Vineyard Haven.

Admissions is $8 and $5 for film society members, at the door only.

For more information visit mvfilmsociety.com or call 508-696-9369.