Napoli - Los Angeles, a court for Kobe Bryant

A basketball court in Montedonzelli, in Naples' Arenella district, is at the centre of Napoli - Los Angeles, a court for Kobe Bryant. Directed by Marina Fastoso, the documentary follows Nick Ansom, founder of the US project Veniceball, who arrived in Naples in the winter of 2020. News of Kobe Bryant's death changes the purpose of the trip: together with local associations, artists and residents, Ansom helps transform the playground into a space dedicated to the player's memory and to the game of basketball.

The story unfolds over just a few days. The film observes the work on the court: cleaning, painting, marking the playing lines, repairing the hoops, and bringing people together to plan and carry out the changes. Rain and construction work accompany the shift from a neglected place to a space identified by yellow and purple. Aerial views make the playground's new geometry visible; closer shots follow hands, tools and volunteers. The mural honouring Bryant, created by Jorit and Luca Carnevale, becomes one of the story's visual landmarks.

The project brings different people and groups together. Contemporary reporting documents the contributions of Veniceball, Charlatans Basket Napoli, GuapaNapoli and many neighbourhood residents. Ansom is also credited as the film's producer; Fastoso is named among its camera operators, while the music is credited to Giuseppe PeppOh Sica. The documentary alternates a travel diary, short testimonies and images of the court as work proceeds: the connection between Naples and Los Angeles emerges through everyday actions, artistic expression and a shared passion for sport.

On 2 February 2020 the court hosted Kobe Memorial Day, a public day of basketball and community participation. The film traces the work that led to that moment, looking beyond a single commemorative image. Completed in 2025, Napoli - Los Angeles, a court for Kobe Bryant is a candidate for the 2026 International Sport Film Festival: a story in which basketball offers a way to observe a community working on its own urban space.