"Arrangiarsi" - Matteo Troncone's Love Letter to his Italian Origins

"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, a film crew and be a “tourist,” but to immerse myself and deeply experience the culture." -Matteo Troncone

The Italian word “arrangiarsi” means the art of making something out of nothing. I didn't know this word until I discovered Matteo Troncone's film. Titled Arrangiarsi, the film is a labor of love that forced Troncone to be homeless during the making of the film, dividing his time between his van in California and a tent in Italy.

A California native, Troncone's Italian origins are in the north and south of Italy, so it was a poignant experience for him to go back to his family's roots and savor not only the amazing Neapolitan food but to also take in the rich culture and centuries-old traditions. The project was seven years in the making and captures the essence of his adventures and sometimes hilarious, other times tragic misfortunes.

The film is currently being shown in the Bay Area of California at the following venues:

January 14 at 2:30pm at the Italian American Museum of San Francisco

January 27 at 6:30pm at the Lark Theater in Larkspur

Troncone told me that he is organizing screenings on the West Coast and has several lined up through April. Check our social media pages for updates.

In the meantime, watch the trailer... My favorite line is the hilarious..."I'm ready to go Italian. I'm ready to lose it." Don't miss this film if you get the chance to see it!

For more information about Arrangiarsi, visit the film online at www.arrangiarsifilm.com.

- Jeannine Guilyard

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