Paolo Sorrentino returns to the big screen with "Parthenope," a work that transcends simple storytelling to become a fully sensory experience. Premiering on December 25, 2024, this 136-minute film not only pays homage to Naples but also introduces the world to a new star: Celeste Dalla Porta. The title "Parthenope" (in Spanish: Parténope; in Ancient Greek: Παρθενόπη [Parthenópē]; in Modern Greek: Παρθενόπη [Parthenópi]; in Latin: Parthenope; in Italian: Partenope) refers to a siren from Greek mythology who gave her name to a city located where Naples would later rise in Italy.
Celeste Dalla Porta: The Birth of a Star
Celeste Dalla Porta’s magnetic presence dominates every frame of "Parthenope." Playing an anthropology student, her character navigates the complexities of Neapolitan life from the 1950s to the present day, embodying both a personal story and a metaphor for the city itself. Her performance combines prodigious beauty with a depth that captivates from the very first moment.
The Symphony of Naples: Marchitelli's Soundtrack
Lele Marchitelli, a frequent collaborator of Sorrentino, creates a soundtrack that becomes another character in the film. The music fuses classical compositions with contemporary sounds, including traditional Neapolitan songs and modern reinterpretations like "Funiculì, Funiculà." A standout moment is the sunrise sequence over the Gulf of Naples, where Marchitelli's strings transform the visual spectacle into a deeply emotional experience.
A Story of Contrasts
The film explores multiple dualities: the sacred versus the profane, wealth versus poverty, beauty versus decay.
Gary Oldman’s brief appearance as John Cheever adds a new dimension to the film’s exploration of human complexity. His presence, motivated by his admiration for Sorrentino’s work, enriches this deeply Italian story with an international touch.
Visual Poetry
True to Sorrentino’s style, each frame is meticulously composed. The director transforms Naples into a dreamlike landscape where reality and poetry intertwine. While some critics note that the aesthetic approach can resemble luxury advertising, this visual style serves to elevate the drama and inherent beauty of the city.
Watch Parthenope Online
"Parthenope" reflects Sorrentino's evolution as a filmmaker. While it may not reach the heights of his other works like "The Great Beauty" or "The Consequences of Love," it offers something equally valuable: a meditation on youth, beauty, and the passage of time, all seen through the lens of one of contemporary cinema’s most distinctive visual stylists.
Soundtrack
- "Exodus" - Wojciech Kilar, Cracow Philharmonic Chorus, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit
- "True Sorry" - Ibrahim Maalouf
- "A Gira" - Trio Ternura
- "Oversky" - Luke Howard
- "Mess Hall" - Luke Howard, Nadje Noordhuis
- "Bluebird" - Luke Howard, Nadje Noordhuis
- "Che cosa c'è - Remastered" - Gino Paoli
- "My Way" - Frank Sinatra
- "Io sono il vento" - Marino Marini
- "Harvester of Sorrow" - Little Kruta, Jenn Mundia
- "fields of forever" - Chad Lawson, Peter Gregson, Esther Yoo, James Southall
- "Napoletana - Live Version" - Enzo Avitabile, Mario Brunello
- "Rjóður" - Snorri Hallgrímsson
- "Memoria" - LaTorre
- "Era già tutto previsto" - Riccardo Cocciante
- "The Mistral Noir" - Daniel Herskedal
- "The Lighthouse" - Daniel Herskedal, Bergmund Waal Skaslien, Eyolf Dale, Helge Andreas Norbakken
- "Pause" - Peter Gregson
- "Valse triste, Op. 44 No. 1" - Jean Sibelius, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan
- "Indigo" - Nadje Noordhuis, James Shipp
- "Malambo No. 1" - Yma Sumac
- "Pupularia - Live Version" - Enzo Avitabile, Djivan Gasparyan, Hossein Alizadeh
- "Six Bagatelles for Wind Quintet: V. (Béla Bartók in memoriam) - Adagio. Mesto - Live" - György Ligeti, Marion Ralincourt, Hélène Mourot, Christian Laborie, Michaël Rolland, Pierre Rougerie
- "II. Warmth" - Peter Gregson, Warren Zielinski, Magdalena Filipczak, Laurie Anderson, Ashok Klouda
- "L'estate sta finendo" - Righeira
