There’s always a way.
Writer, director, cinematographer, and editor Matteo Troncone begins this fascinating, philosophical first-person travelogue without a job, relationship, or home. While living in his VW van on the streets of San Francisco, he decides there is only one thing to do: trace his roots to Naples and learn the secret of Neapolitan pizza. Once there, he discovers the art of arrangiarsi - the process of arranging yourself to make something from nothing.
“The movie's energy, ebullience, vivid scenery, and pizza porn keep us watching…”
– LA Times
We meet a colorful crew of characters, from street artists to pizza makers, who find a path to live and love in the most joyful ways, regardless of circumstance. This inspiring film combines a healthy smattering of foodie passion, little-known Italian history, and quirky Neapolitans to tell the tale of one man's journey to find himself ...and the greatest pizza on earth.
The obstacle is the path…
Arrangiarsi (pizza... and the art of living) is my quest for the secret of Neapolitan pizza. It was in Naples that I also discovered Arrangiarsi: the art of making something out of nothing. Only the Italians have a common verb for this art form, and the Neapolitans are known all over Italy as being the masters.
While making this film, I lived for five years in my camper van in California and in a tent in Naples, Italy. I made a total of nine trips for filming; working, bartering, and arranging my life to create this film. To truly understand the film's subject matter, it was important for me to actually ‘live it’ - not just go to Naples for two weeks with a big budget and a film crew and be a ‘tourist’, but to immerse myself and deeply experience the culture. The film also explores each element of Neapolitan pizza: the tomato, wheat, and olive harvests, as well as Italy's only organic buffalo mozzarella farm. In addition to each ingredient, the film examines the skill of the ‘pizzaiolo’ (pizza-maker) and reveals their secrets.
From the beginning, I envisioned this project to be more of a non-fiction film with narrative elements. I wanted this film to be alive - like Naples and the pizza it created. This eight-vear project is my love letter to Naples, pizza, Italy, and the knowledge that "there is always a way."
Mangiamo!
Matteo Troncone