Das Geheimnis von Neapel

A mystery play set in the Naples with unmistakably European flavor, if you've watched Italian giallo it's hard not to see gentle nods to that direction. The plot mystery and hints at side plots however don't get exhausted can feel frustrating for more straight forward Hollywood oriented storytelling perhaps. Some audience might not get that. In here every shown picture and each piece of mystery isn't used and explained and they're not really ment to satisfy curiosity - but rather add to it. Veil it, instead of unveiling, if you please.

... or a portrait. portrait of Naples. using pieces from Fellini and the love as axis. a film about a world. honest, touching, labyrinth - like. usefull. for the sentimental geography. for the story like arena. for cultural references. maybe, for courage. and for seductive beauty.

This is actually a great movie. Extremely poetical and suggesting in its photography, this movie has also a compelling plot and some good psychological insights.

It's probably at its best if watched in the original language, so as to appreciate Italian (expecially Naples') culture and images.

That was possibly the worst movie i have ever seen. films with gay and lesbian characters can do extremely well at the box-office, so director ozpetek tried to shock moviegoers with this "mysterious and sensational" movie at the cryptic and (do not know why) dark and decadent world of naples. this supposedly noir-erotic drama generated in me nothing but annoyance: napoli velata, promised steamy situations thanks to its title but plot only delivered boredom and predictability. what also makes this badly watchable is that ozpetek shoots every scene on a weird angle, so many actors were really, really ugly. it's impossible not to be somehow grossed out and a little bit puzzled that ozpetek tried to fulfill this ambition with an inexistent plot, static characters (I thought they had dark side... but they're just vulgar, sloppy, embarrassing) and ugly, coarse and melodramatic actors. i think that his view about naples is completely wrong and ultimately injurious.

In theatre, they call it "suspending disbelief". That is an art of the audience of which many Americans have lost their talent. The Europeans, less so. If you are willing to suspend your disbelief; to play in the world of possibility, of love, of romance, of momentary insanity, and redemptive goodness, then this film is for you.

No, it doesn't hand you the answers on a silver platter, but what fun is knowing the certainty when the unknown, the mystery, is so rich in possibility?

For those willing and able to play, to be compassionate to, in brief, be a little more European, this film will please you in every aspect of the word.