Paolo Sorrentino is an Italian director known for Youth, The Great Beauty and Hand of God, which had a subplot about soccer great Diego Maradona and premiered on Netflix His latest film, Parthenope, is much different even though it also takes place in and around Naples, Italy, the director’s home, and his  birthplace.  Like all of his movies, though, it’ll be visually stimulating to the audiences who decide to watch it. It sure was too me, that’s for sure.

Parthenope, as she’s named when she was born after the town in Italy (Celesta Dalla Porta), is a young curious girl who explores her sexuality, attraction, sultriness , and overall beauty.  Just as the camera from director Sorrentino does men gaze at her everywhere she goes. She is motivated by much more stimulating things, though. Her mind and how she uses it is much more of a concern than the fact that she’s the most beautiful woman around Naples, among hundreds of other beautiful women her age and older.  This is the difficulty of her life.

As he does with Dalla Porta, Sorrentino fixed his camera on all the beautiful locations in his hometown of Naples, Italy. The backdrop of blue turquoise ocean water juxtaposed to the mountains and town off in the distance are perfectly shot to make this place look like heaven. The night scenes looked gorgeous as well. Even when scenes are shot in homes or churches, they look impeccably well. Every scene is like a painting. They are that gorgeous.  I was completely transfixed by the beauty in this film. Dalla Porta and the scenery. This is amazing cinematography. 

Dalla Porta’s character goes to college to study anthropology,  which is the study of human beings and human nature. This is a major part of the story because it is the flipside of how people perceive her beauty. They look at her while she’s studying them. Throughout the film, she meets various characters, such as an author played by Gary Oldman, a Bishop played by Peppa Lanzetta, and her professor, played by Silvio Orlando. They all have various facets about themselves that are fascinating to her and the story as a whole. 

The relationships she has with her brother and teenage crush played respectively by Danielle Reinzo and Dario Aita are the most fascinating subplot in the entire movie. She loves them both equally, but it’s a different kind of love than we would usually see in our normal everyday lives. She’s very sensual and romantic with them both, which is odd. First, because one is her brother, the other is because she’s learning about how to use her body and looks to get what she wants. She’s studying people even at a young age and her own family. That was quite interesting to me.

Parthenope premiered in competition last summer at the Festival De Cannes Film Festival. It got a mixed reaction because there are a couple of things I could see that would be a bit divisive. I won’t get into those, though, because they may be a bit spoilery for some. I was not bothered by them because they fit into the overall story nicely. The story as whole, though, was a bit ambiguous because the camera watched the main character, but she didn’t say much. You saw the story unfold from her perspective without much dialogue. You have figured out what was going on by reading into what she was thinking. That can be difficult for some viewers, but I found it mentally stimulating as well as figuratively stimulating watching her from the beginning to the end of the film. She is one of the best characters. I had the privilege to watch this/ last year. 

The key to whether or not you like this movie as much as I did is whether you follow the main actress Dalla Porta and are interested in her journey or not. From the very minute I layer my eyes on her, I was instantly drawn by who this young woman was. Why were these men completely enamored by her aura  as much as I was. Who is this goddess? I was looking behind those deep brown eyes and long brown hair. His story completely surprised me by the end of the film. She is not just about being beautiful even though she was. She’s a smart woman played by a newer actress I’m just learning about now. She is on my radar, and I’ll never forget her or this incredible performance. She was completely memorizing on screen. I’m glad I had the chance to watch this movie so I could see her.

Parthenope is a film that is going to make you think while you are lost in the aura of a beautiful woman played brilliantly by Dalla Costa. She had me transfixed throughout this movie. Just like her character did so many men, including her own flesh and blood. This actress is now one I am going to keep my eye on going forward. Paolo Sorrentino found a gem in her. The rest of the film from Naples to all the other locations was gorgeously shot, and I could literally live here if I was given the opportunity.  It is that breathtakingly beautiful of a place.  One man’s decisive or odd film is another’s piece of art and / or beautiful movie. Not just because it starred a beautiful actress. Sorrentino made something rare and thought provokingly beautiful. Which is amazing to me.

4 ½ stars

Dan Skip Allen