A new film from Academy Award-winner Paolo Sorrentino (The Great Beauty, Youth, The New Pope) is always an event to celebrate, and PARTHENOPE – his visually and aurally stunning, decades-spanning romantic drama about a Neapolitan woman’s search for happiness and fulfilment – is no exception.
In 1950, near the Bay of Naples, young Parthenope is born in the Mediterranean Sea, just outside the crumbling castle where she will spend her childhood. She is named – by her family’s rich, boorish benefactor – after the legendary Greek siren associated with the foundation of what became modern-day Naples.
As her teenage summers pass, Parthenope (portrayed by breakout star Celeste Dalla Porta) grows into a statuesque and intellectually captivating young woman, holding everyone around her in her thrall. She soon learns to navigate the complexities of a distracted and emotionally volatile family, the endless attention of boys and men, and the rigorous expectations of academia, where she becomes something of a disciple of her anthropology professor (Silvio Orlando), and a kindred spirit for a disillusioned author (Gary Oldman). Through tragedy, lost loves and professional setbacks, Parthenope remains dedicated to the singular beauty of Naples, with its many memorable characters, but also its uneasy mix of commerce, religion, crime and class.
An intoxicating and complex reflection on objectification, and the way people see themselves and others, Sorrentino provocatively shifts between the sacred and the profane. With gasp-worthy visuals from award-winning cinematographer Daria D’Antonio (The Hand of God), fashion design by Saint Laurent, and a perfectly pitched soundscape, PARTHENOPE does for Naples, Capri and the Amalfi Coast what The Great Beauty did for Rome. It’s a spectacular, challenging and immersive experience.
For a chance to win a double pass to PARTHENOPE, simply email
competitions@filmink.com.au with your favourite cinematic ode to a particular place and why you love it. Most creative entries win. Don’t forget to include your postal address with the entry.
Australian Competitions Club
