Basilicata coast to coast

Plot

Nicola Palmieri is a high school math teacher and music enthusiast. He leads a local band from Maratea whose other members include guitarist Salvatore Chiarelli, a medical student struggling to graduate; double bassist Franco Cardillo, a carpenter who has been mute since the death of the woman he loved; and percussionist Rocco Santamaria, Salvatore's cousin and a fading TV personality. The quartet signs up for the "Theatre-Song Festival" in Scanzano, naming themselves "Le Pale Eoliche" (The Wind Turbines). Nicola plans to cross Basilicata from the Tyrrhenian to the Ionian coast, suggesting they leave 10 days earlier to go on foot. They are followed by a local TV journalist named Tropea Limongi, reluctantly assigned to document their journey, though she eventually becomes fascinated by their experience. During their long trek, the group walks along little-known backroads, relying on a small wagon pulled by a white horse to transport supplies, instruments, and two tents. They also rehearse the songs they are going to perform at the festival, giving impromptu concerts in the small villages they pass through. Marked by highs and lows, the journey proves to be therapeutic, helping the four band members find the purpose in life they seemed to have lost.

Cast

Rocco Papaleo - Nicola Palmieri

Alessandro Gassman - Rocco Santamaria

Paolo Briguglia - Salvatore Chiarelli

Max Gazzè - Franco Cardillo

Michela Andreozzi - Lucia

Giovanna Mezzogiorno - Tropea Limongi

Claudia Potenza - Maria Teresa

Gaetano Amato - Vincenzo Limongi

Antonio Gerardi - Carmine

Augusto Fornari - Rocco's press agent

Antonio Andrisani - Priest

Giovanni Andriuoli - Tropea's cameraman

Production

The film was entirely shot in the Basilicata region. Principal locations include Maratea, Lauria, Tramutola, Aliano, Scanzano Jonico, Craco and Lago di Pietra del Pertusillo. It marked Papaleo's debut as a film director and the first acting experience for musician Max Gazzè.

Reception

Box office

The film grossed €3.4 million.

Critical response

The film received mostly favorable reviews. The simple yet engaging plot, the setting, and the music were particularly appreciated by critics. Alberto Crespi of l'Unità called the film "well-acted, well-shot, and full of magnificent music," as well as "poignant, wandering, and emotional". Gianluca Ammone of Cinematografo noted a "lightness of spirit that wins you over, without overdoing it, trying to charm, or taking shortcuts". Maurizio Porro of Corriere della Sera described it as a "vital, likeable film, albeit somewhat wordy and didactic, but full of a genuine desire for cinema and storytelling". On a more critical note, Massimo Bertarelli of Il Giornale dismissed the film's plot and execution as "thin", complaining that "150 kilometers on foot is exhausting even for the viewer".

Remake

A South Korean remake, Blue Busking, was released in 2016.