Naples, Italy – The former residence of the revered musicologist, director, and composer Roberto De Simone, located on the first floor of Palazzo Ruffo di Castelcicala in Via Foria, has been repurposed as a film set. The film, titled ‘Spaccanapoli Times’, is being directed by Nadia Baldi, based on the work of Ruggero Cappuccio, and co-produced by Teatro Segreto and Maxima Film, with contributions from the Ministry of Culture.
A Legacy Continued: From Cultural Hub to Cinematic Stage
For decades, De Simone’s home was a vibrant center for artists, friends, and admirers of the maestro, who passed away on April 6 last year. Although De Simone was a tenant and not the owner of the noble house, his profound cultural presence made the location a significant landmark on the grand boulevard initiated by Murat.
A few months ago, De Simone’s extensive collection of art and popular culture artifacts were carefully packed and moved by his heirs. It is widely hoped that this prestigious collection will remain in Naples, the city where it was created and where De Simone lived until his final days. De Simone himself expressed a wish for his works to be made accessible to the public, suggesting the Museum of San Martino in Naples or the Santa Cecilia Foundation in Rome.
The Transformation of a Sacred Space
The apartment, once De Simone’s sanctum sanctorum, housed an extraordinary array of religious and cultural artifacts. This included grand Madonnas of the Arch, Montevergine, and Piedigrotta on ancient canvases or papier-mâché, silver ex-votos, cherubs, sirens, and statues of Saints Anthony, Christopher, Cosmas, and Damian. The collection also featured prints of Neapolitan costumes, ampoules, figures of San Michele, Pulcinella, and Masaniello, various musical instruments, and a large grand piano. Now, this historically rich space has been transformed into a film set, demonstrating that the ‘genius loci’ of art endures, weaving karmic threads into the present.
‘Spaccanapoli Times’: A Theatrical Work on the Big Screen
The film ‘Spaccanapoli Times’ draws its inspiration from Ruggero Cappuccio’s eponymous theatrical work. The palazzo itself is no stranger to cinema; its courtyard was famously used by Luciano De Crescenzo for his cult films ‘Così parlò Bellavista’ and ‘Il mistero di Bellavista’.
Upon entering the apartment, where De Simone once welcomed his guests, a seemingly collapsed beam amidst rubble might cause concern. However, this is merely part of the set design, marking the beginning of the cinematic narrative. Those familiar with the stage production can infer that the setting is the home of the Acquaviva family.
The Plot Unfolds: Past Meets Present
The story centers around a
