Paolo Sorrentino Explores Youth, Beauty, and Time in 'Parthenope'
The Italian director's latest film, featuring newcomer Celeste Dalla Porta, offers a layered portrait of a woman's journey through life and her complex relationships.
- ‘Parthenope’ is Paolo Sorrentino’s follow-up to his Oscar-nominated film ‘The Hand of God,’ exploring themes of youth, time, and identity through a female protagonist for the first time.
- The film stars Celeste Dalla Porta, who delivers a compelling debut performance as Parthenope, a woman navigating love, loss, and self-discovery in Naples and beyond.
- Sorrentino's cinematic homage to Naples captures the city’s enigmatic and theatrical nature, while also examining its societal complexities and contradictions.
- Gary Oldman appears as novelist John Cheever, one of many figures who influence Parthenope’s journey, alongside her relationships with family, lovers, and mentors.
- Though praised for its visual beauty and Dalla Porta's performance, some critics have noted the film's struggle to fully transcend the male gaze in its portrayal of Parthenope.
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