Paolo Sorrentino is a singular filmmaker whose idiosyncratic style has proven to be quite divisive. While some appreciate the strange tonal shifts within his work, others may find it confusing, pretentious, and dull. Sorrentino may have earned critical acclaim for his Oscar-winning epic, The Great Beauty, and his semi-autobiographical coming-of-age drama, The Hand of God, but he has also proven himself capable of making more accessible work that can be appreciated on both a literal and metaphorical level. Parthenope is an engaging, raunchy coming-of-age film that explores modern interpretations of Greek mythology, which goes a long way to demonstrate Sorrentino’s range. Among the film’s intriguing components is an idiosyncratic appearance by Gary Oldman, who manages to make an engaging and meaningful appearance despite his extremely limited screentime.
What Is ‘Parthenope’ About?
Set within a wealthy community on the coast of Naples, Parthenope follows the adolescence of a young woman, Parthenope Di Sangro, played by breakout star Celeste Dalla Porta. The name “Parthenope” is a reference to a siren from Greek mythology, who used her beautiful voice in an attempt to seduce the hero, Odysseus. Although Parthenope’s name was given to her in order to honor her heritage, she finds that she has a powerful effect upon the men in her community, including her brother and their childhood best friend. While Parthenope’s degrees of influence begin to isolate her from her peers, she commits herself to her studies and career as a researcher, forming a close bond with her mentor, Devoto Marotta (Silvio Orlando). Although her research is conducted in earnest, Parthenope grows concerned about what her legacy will be.
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Parthenope is an amusing look at why Greek mythology is still resonant in the modern age, as it was historically used to explain things that seemed implausible. Although Parthenope’s beauty is viewed as mythical, it’s also an excuse for the men in her community to treat her as an object, as they cannot wrap their heads around the concept of her individuality. Sorrentino engages with the idea of modern myth-making, as Parthenope’s status within the community becomes greatly exaggerated as she begins to grow more deeply interested in her studies. While the film is very satirical of the ways in which masculinity has shaped religion, education, and culture, it’s also unafraid to include darker moments in which Parthenope is reminded that her life is not a fantasy. Although she often enjoys the benefits of being viewed as a mythic creature, death still permeates the community, and she is often blamed for the fall of men who have grown obsessed with her. This makes Oldman’s appearance even more important, as it ties the events of Parthenope to real historical events, and suggests that Parthenope has had a tangible impact on the artistic community.
‘Parthenope’ Has a Great Ensemble Cast
As with many of Sorrentino’s films, Parthenope has a fun collection of characters inspired by both history and mythology, as it blurs the lines between genres. Gary Oldman has a memorable appearance as the real-life American novelist John Cheever, who became acclaimed for his stories about dual societal roles and familial disputes. Dalla Porta is tasked with delivering some of the more emotionally gripping scenes, but many of her co-stars who play her extended family are allowed to be more humorous. While it is fun to see an actor as iconic as Oldman show up for a few moments, especially since he is allowed the opportunity to chew the scenery by playing an eccentric character, it’s not just a cameo by an Academy Award-winning actor. Cheever’s words have a direct impact on Parthenope’s self-actualization.
Parthenope realizes that she should not hide her more honorable interests under the guise of a flirtatious siren, as it is more likely that she will make progress if she is honest about the intentions of her research. Also strong in the film is Silvio Orlando, who appears as a professor who helps shape Parthenope’s field of study. Orlando is a veteran of Sorrentino’s body of work and is well-suited to the more artistically minded material.
Parthenope hinges on the performance by Dalla Porta, who is able to give her character a great deal of agency, even when she is constantly being judged for her physical features. Although sirens in Greek mythology are often associated with eternal youth, Dalla Porta shows how age impacts Parthenope’s resolve, as she ironically develops a more adventurous attitude as she grows older; Stefania Sandrelli gives a memorable performance as an older version of the character. While some may not have appreciated the film’s stylistic flourishes, the ambiguity regarding the characters’ motivations makes Parthenope an engaging watch, particularly when Sorrentino satirizes the inherently vapid nature of his narrative interests. Between its raunchy humor, existentialist musings, and earnest celebration of academia, Parthenope is both beautiful and engaging, and certainly ranks among the most formally experimental films that A24 has ever distributed.
- Release Date
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October 24, 2024
- Runtime
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137 minutes
- Director
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Paolo Sorrentino
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Celeste Dalla Porta
Parthenope
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Stefania Sandrelli
Parthenope (old)