LA RECENSIONE

THE JOURNEY AND THE DREAM

How well does this music suit that face, that journey, another journey of hope, not today's towards Italy, but from Italy in search of happiness, of Life, a bath in milk, in the purity of a better future, the dream of a man.

The face is that of Charlotte Gainsbourg, siren of the ship, sensual and sexy, diva on the vessel gliding slowly over the ocean, overcrowded, yet fragrant, or rather, laden with smell, the smell of fortune, of those who could leave and left behind a poor paradise for a rich, yet unknown, hell.

Immigration to America at the beginning of the twentieth century is not only a historical phenomenon of fundamental importance for the development of our country but is the spark that lights the flame giving life to the imagination and hopes of a generation, for whom crossing the ocean was akin to touching the future.

The music that serves as the soundtrack to Crialese's New World is bittersweet and sentimental, rich with that epic and desolate cynicism that lives in the desperation of a generation forced to seek out the Joy of living.

The music of Antonio Castrignanò is the free breath of the poor people crowded at the door of purgatory, it's the sound of Sicily, of Puglia, the image of Italy in its entirety, agricultural and ailing, ancestor of the current third world, a blend of traditional Italian, Eastern European, and African music.

Castrignanò, percussionist and tambourine player, plays the rhythm of Salento, the Pizzica and the Taranta blend with the flavors of the sea and the scents of the earth, scorched and cruel, traditional instruments parade like a procession of barefoot pilgrims, strings and voices scream and whisper across the ocean, optimism melts into a sea of fears, the suffering for what has been left far behind, the affection of loved ones, is lost and dissipates like a drop of milk in the same sea.

The horizon draws closer, the New World is visible, suddenly it becomes much easier not to think, melancholy and fear become ever smaller and give way to a new light, the flash that enchants, the muse that points the way, Nina Simone, keeps the beat with "Sinnerman" and moves with "Feeling good."

"It's a new dawn

It's a new day

It's a new life

For me

and I'm feeling good"

...almost a dedication... to those who seek a New World.

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Summary by Bot

Antonio Castrignanò's NuovoMondo OST beautifully captures the journey of Italian immigrants seeking a better future. Blending traditional Salento rhythms, folk instruments, and rich cultural sounds, the music evokes bittersweet hope and melancholy. The soundtrack acts as a musical narrative paralleling history and dreams, enriched by deep emotions and cinematic storytelling. It's a soulful tribute to those searching for life and happiness beyond their homeland.