Parthenope
February 10th, 2025
MOVIE: PARTHENOPE
STARRING: CELESTE DALLA PORTA, DARIO AITA, SILVIO ORLANDO, GARY OLDMAN
DIRECTED BY: PAOLO SORRENTINO
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 ½ STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: R
RUN TIME: 136 MINUTES
It’s interesting to notice which movies make you cry and which ones don’t as you grow older. I recently rewatched Michael Mann’s Heat, and it had me bawling. That heist film is about two men fighting their pride in a world that will always push them down. Parthenope is the opposite of Heat, but it’s also a stunning experience. The newest film from Oscar-winning writer/director Paolo Sorrentino, tells the story of a beautiful woman in Naples, Italy. Midway through, I found myself tearing up—not solely because the story is sad, but because of the way it captures the essence of lead actor Celeste Dalla Porta, the breathtaking landscapes, and the sheer beauty of it all. Parthenope is about life itself—youth, aging, the passion for love, and what it means to be alive. We live vicariously through the woman at its heart.
The story begins with the birth of Parthenope—named after one of the Greek Sirens—emerging from the waters of Naples, portrayed at 18 by Dalla Porta. Her early years are defined by the process of growing older and the men she meets along the way. From childhood, we see Parthenope and Sandrino (Dario Aita) share a connection grounded in love and the temptation of what they desire. Later, she meets her favorite author, John Cheever (Gary Oldman), who instantly connects with her but engages in more conversation than romance, realizing that his age might be an obstacle. In the third act, she forms a relationship with Professor Devota Marotta (Silvio Orlando), a mentor guiding her through the complexities of her extraordinary life. Throughout it all, beauty and life are ever-present.
A common critique of Sorrentino’s work is that his films often resemble luxurious cologne ads. While that’s not an unfair assessment, it can imply a lack of substance, which is far from true. Parthenope invites the audience to do the mental work. The film is steeped in the rich tradition of Italian cinema, evoking the spirits of Fellini, Antonioni, Pasolini, and Guadagnino. One can’t help but feel their energy in every frame—a sense of wonder in walking alongside Parthenope and experiencing her dreamlike existence. There’s heartbreak from past lovers, pain from loss, the struggle of a woman trying to be taken seriously in her career, and the ever-present fear of aging. Not that Sorrentino’s films have ever pretended to be anything else, but Parthenope is undeniably Italian.
The narrative of Parthenope revolves around time—the passage of it, the capturing of moments, and carrying them with you as you grow older. There are two undeniably odd sequences: one showing a sexual ritual between two strangers, witnessed by voyeurs, and another where Marotta introduces Parthenope to his giant-sized baby boy—a moment that feels as if it’s been lifted from a David Lynch film. These scenes may seem out of place, or perhaps they’re part of the plan to highlight the unpredictable nature of life. Dalla Porta is also a revelation, beautifully walking through her character’s journey. In the end, Parthenope is an incredibly beautiful film—so beautiful that it might just bring you to tears.
PARTHENOPE IS PLAYING IN SELECT THEATERS ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 14TH, 2024.
3 ½ STARS
Written by: Leo Brady
