Who needs talking heads for a documentary when they can have singing heads and dancing bodies?

“Passione,” a valentine to the southern Italian city of Naples directed by Italian-American actor John Turturro, showcases the city’s musical heritage, going back to the 13th century.

Most of the 25 or so performances take place on the cobblestone streets of Napoli (that’s what Italians call the ancient city). “There are places you go and once is enough. Then there’s Napoli,” gushes Turturro, who early in life wanted to dance like Fred Astaire.

The musical numbers, most of which come with subtitles, aren’t just of Italian origin. Many represent the culture of Italy’s invaders — Norman, Spanish, French, Arab.

The music is vibrant and the presentation is appealing. The songs include one that most American viewers will recognize, “O Sole Mio.” It’s performed three times, twice by Italian men and once by the sultry Tunisian actress M’Barka Ben Taleb.

She’s a convincing argument for dancing bodies rather than talking heads.