I love the idea behind this little film, that coffee and the act of sharing and partaking in it with others can be a positive, transformative, and communal experience amongst family, friends, and strangers. It focuses on parts of Italy where the practice of 'suspended' coffee (I purchase one cup and pay for two so that the next person, or someone yet to come can have a complimentary cup, perhaps someone who cannot afford it) started and continues. We visit cafes and some older patrons who have been participants in the coffee culture for decades and how it has positively effected them. I have to admit that I wasn't sure whose point of view the story was being told. At some points throughout we are following a young woman and her family, at other times random coffee customers, and at other times shop owners. But is wasn't presented as completely observational, so it was a little confusing in that regard. This documentary film was clearly a labor of love that I enjoyed and that is how I am reviewing it.
7 Reviews
Enjoyable, but abrupt ending
awvknj15 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I loved the feeling of being immersed in Italian culture, both in Italy, and in the US. The stories of the people featured were compelling although not completely flushed out, but they wove into the every day life of these people, and I felt a little bit like a fly on the wall, enjoying the culture and learning about who these people were. That said, apparently, one of the people involved passed away suddenly, and the film shows it because it just suddenly ended as well. They tried to wrap it up, neatly and tie a bow on it, but I was very sad to see that one of the featured people who was "reformed" and had a child creating a new life with a career in the cafe' had a one line summary at the end that he basically ran away and no one knows where he is today. Very sad, but I guess that's life isn't it not everyone takes advantage of the opportunities. The woman from America who went back to visit her family in Italy. I loved that sequence walking through the town. I really liked that part of this film feeling like I was on the street walking around in Italy, so it had a great concept it just needed to be fine tuned.
Just boring
matteotraversini28 November 2020
Ummmmm no.
peterkowalski3 August 2021
The makers committed a cardinal sin when making this documentary - they filmed a movie without an idea, allowing you to think it might be about the act and story of the suspended coffee, but no - it's a lackluster collection of stories taped together without any common thread, showing people, drinking coffee, in various parts of the world. And even if that sounds interesting to you, believe me, it isn't.
Great concept but poor execution
anthonypwatson20 February 2023
Wanted to love this but the quality and editing were very poor and distracting for something that is supposed to have passed Netflix quality control. The actual concept of the film has huge potential. Coffee is universal and the characters interviewed had things to say. The handheld camera work was unwatchable at times. The tripod work was robotic. The editing was all over the place. Took a while to understand who was where, as it jumped around without being able to establish any location to the point you could engage with it. If I were the filmmaker I would re-make it with a better script, camera and editing as it has great potential.
grande film
altamimi-0044316 March 2019
Some say this is mere kindness, not kindness and not even being generous as that is done from the bar to the outside...
RosanaBotafogo9 July 2023
In Naples, Buenos Aires and New York, people reflect on the Neapolitan tradition of "suspended coffee" and how it changed their lives.
"Caffè Sospeso" a bit of the history of coffee, which goes beyond the drink, about kindness, altruism and philanthropy, a century-old tradition that began in the working-class cafes of Naples, when someone was lucky they paid for two coffees, they drank and the another was a "pending" or "suspended" coffee, which was highly decided upon by the less fortunate person who requested a coffee... A beautiful documentary, some say this is mere kindness, not kindness and not even being generous as that is done from the bar to the outside, interesting insight...
"Caffè Sospeso" a bit of the history of coffee, which goes beyond the drink, about kindness, altruism and philanthropy, a century-old tradition that began in the working-class cafes of Naples, when someone was lucky they paid for two coffees, they drank and the another was a "pending" or "suspended" coffee, which was highly decided upon by the less fortunate person who requested a coffee... A beautiful documentary, some say this is mere kindness, not kindness and not even being generous as that is done from the bar to the outside, interesting insight...
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
