After garnering acclaim with ‘The Great Beauty’ and ‘The Hand of God’, Paolo Sorrentino, known for his stunning visuals and meditative storytelling, dives once more into themes of memory and regret, painting a story as visually stunning as it is emotionally raw.
The film’s title character, Parthenope (Celeste Dalla Porta), is a stunning young woman named after a mythological siren inextricably linked with the city of Naples, where she lounges through idle summers and on the nearby island of Capri. There, five years later, she encounters the writer John Cheever (Gary Oldman), an author she’d been reading and quoting for years. Sorentino’s last film, 2021’s ‘The Hand of God’, was a love letter to his hometown of Naples with lots of autobiographical elements, and this one removes the personal story but retains the sense that it’s a tribute to the place. ‘Parthenope’ is both a tribute to Naples and a lushly poetic reflection on the creative process, carried by unforgettable performances and a mesmerizing score. Sorrentino, as ever, delivers unforgettable, immersive and ravishing cinema. (Subtitles)
Italy/UK 2024 Paolo Sorrentino 121m
