With Parthenope, Paolo Sorrentino returns to the cinema in a style that's close to his heart: an intimate, contemplative fresco supported by a nostalgic narrative and meticulous direction. Following on from the success of La Grande Bellezza and Il Divo, this time the Italian director takes us into the destiny of Parthenope, a woman who evolves from her birth in the 1950s to the present day. The film explores the passionate loves and disillusions of its heroine, while capturing the beauty and complexity of Naples and Capri, two places steeped in history and contrasts. The cast features Celeste Dalla Porta, Stefania Sandrelli and Gary Oldman as key figures in this journey through time. Selected for official competition at Cannes 2024, this drama promises a poetic and melancholy plunge into the heart of human emotions.
Parthenope will be shown in cinemas from March 12, 2025.
Synopsis: The life of Parthenope from her birth in the 1950s to the present day. A feminine epic devoid of heroism, but infatuated with freedom, Naples and love. True, unspeakable or unrequited love that condemns you to pain, but makes you start again. The perfect Capri summer of carefree youth despite a hopeless horizon. Around Parthenope, the Neapolitans. Scrutinized, loved, disillusioned and full of life, we follow them in their melancholy drifts, tragic ironies and moments of discouragement. Life can be very long, memorable or ordinary. The passage of time offers the whole repertoire of feelings. And there, in the background, near and far, that indefinable city, Naples, which bewitches, enchants, howls, laughs and can hurt us.
With Parthenope, Paolo Sorrentino seems to be offering a work that will appeal above all to lovers of auteur cinema and introspective frescoes. The evocation of Naples and Capri, the director's polished aesthetic and the poetry of the passage of time are reminiscent of works such as La Grande Bellezza or Call Me by Your Name, where emotion is born as much from the characters as from the landscapes and memories they evoke.
The film could particularly appeal to those who appreciate tales of wandering and love, nuanced female portraits and works exploring the notion of memory and nostalgia. The presence of Gary Oldman, accustomed to deep, complex roles, and that of Celeste Dalla Porta, unknown to the general public but heralded as a revelation, reinforces the appeal of the project. However, those looking for a more dynamic narrative or a classic drama with a linear narrative thread may be put off by the film's lyrical, contemplative structure.
Selected in Official Competition at the Cannes Film Festival 2024, Parthenope marks Paolo Sorrentino's return after his successful forays into the world of series with The Young Pope and The New Pope. At the festival press conference, Thierry Frémaux described the film as an exploration of the beauty and contradictions of Naples, through the eyes of a young woman struggling to be perceived in ways other than her appearance. This portrait, both social and intimate, should reflect themes dear to the director's heart: nostalgia,identity, and the weight of the past on individuals.
With Parthenope, Paolo Sorrentino signs an intimate fresco where love, time and memory intersect in a mesmerizing Naples. This poetic drama, with its refined direction and promising cast, promises to be an emotional and visual voyage not to be missed. Selected for Cannes 2024, this film is sure to delight fans of auteur cinema and melancholy storytelling.
This article is based on information available online; we have not yet viewed the film or series mentioned.
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