Naples, as seen through the eyes of those who weren't born there but chose to experience it to the fullest. This is the perspective of the documentary "We Are Not Neapolitans," directed by Gianluca Vitiello, a Radio Deejay speaker and author who, with "Napolitaners," explored the relationship with the city among those who had left. This time, the perspective is reversed: the protagonists are women and men from every corner of the planet, from the United States to Japan, from Palestine to Nigeria, from Russia to Germany. Artists, pizza chefs, religious figures, professionals—those who chose Naples for love, those who arrived there on the run, those who found inspiration there.
Their stories recount the disorientation of their first visit, the impact of a city often described as hostile, and the discovery of an overwhelming reality of beauty, contradictions, energy, and lightness. Among their witnesses is American artist Jimmie Durham, Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale (who passed away in 2021). He described Naples as "crazy and full of problems," yet at the same time capable of making him feel at home.
The documentary's deliberately provocative title reverses the meaning of an offensive stadium chant, transforming it into a manifesto of pride: for the protagonists, not being born in Naples is a small regret, but also an opportunity to observe the city without prejudice, capturing its most authentic essence.
The premiere is scheduled for Friday, September 13th at Casa Cinema Napoli , at 7:00 PM, with the director in attendance. The film's journey will then continue to Milan, Padua, and Turin, accompanied by an original soundtrack by Simone Paleari and enriched with previously unreleased songs.
