Naples, Italy, was the first major European city to be liberated during the Second World War, on October 1, 1943. The Allies had mounted a massive invasion at Salerno and Paestum three weeks before, but strong German resistance made the landing difficult, and winning the way from the beachhead into Naples was costly and uncertain. Only after heavy bombing and bitter fighting climaxed by a four-day insurrection mounted by the people of Naples themselves did the city fall.
Seeing the Darkness is about that liberation. There is no pretense at completeness. Rather, it is an anatomy of images. There is no single voice, but voices. There is no single style. But over all, there is the compelling and paradoxical spirit of Naples itself, the old city whose people are full of both tremendous life and hopelessness.
