James

A child of war, born to a Neapolitan girl and an American soldier after World War II, James Senese was raised in the outskirts of Naples, of which he witnessed the transformation from countryside to suburb. In a fifty-year-long career, he has searched for an identity in a changing world, pouring his conflicts into his music. The documentary paints a portrait of the man and the artist, tracing the beating heart of his trajectory back to the formation of the band Napoli Centrale in the early Seventies, and investigating the latest evolution of that musical endeavor.

Directed by Andrea Della Monica, James leans on a strong ensemble — James Senese — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2020.