Parthenope: Desire and Loneliness

Now and then, cinema surprises us with a masterpiece that only a few can truly appreciate. One so evocative and challenging that it pushes moral boundaries and can provoke outrage among many viewers. Yet Paolo Sorrentino, the controversial director of Parthenope, an Italian film nominated for Best Feature at the Cannes Film Festival, skillfully captivates audiences with a leading actress whose undeniable beauty and magnetic presence make this an unmissable story.

Parthenope, the leading actress, is played by Celeste Dalla Porta. She is an authentic woman, full of nuances and contradictions, marked by misguided decisions and an endless quest for freedom that ultimately leads to solitude. Incomprehensible to many, she evokes an almost innate empathy. Parthenope: The Loves of Naples tells the story of this young woman, born into a wealthy family as the younger sister of Raimundo (Daniele Rienzo), with whom she shares a relationship tinged with incest, an undeniably bold and controversial choice, yet handled with enough subtlety to keep the audience engaged rather than repelled. Raimundo is a fragile and nostalgic character, seemingly longing for a past life where everything had more meaning.

Parthenope explores the many lovers of this enigmatic young woman, who effortlessly captivates those around her. While her beauty evokes the goddess Aphrodite, it is her complex personality, relentless pursuit of truth, and sharp intellect that make her truly irresistible. Her lovers range from a childhood best friend to a priest, as well as hippies and other eclectic figures. For Parthenope, only one thing matters: to feel. If someone can make her feel something in a world that often seems empty, she surrenders to desire without hesitation.

Her life, which begins with vibrant energy, starts to fall apart after Raimundo’s suicide, leading her down a path where one bad decision follows another. She collects lovers as if they were coins. Yet, the storytelling is so exquisitely crafted that even in her darkest moments, we want to understand her and find ourselves forgiving every misstep. This is one of those films in which the choice of the leading actress is so crucial that it is hard to imagine it working with anyone else. Celeste Dalla Porta possesses a magnetism that transcends the screen, drawing in even the most indifferent viewer.

If I had to choose a favorite character, it would undoubtedly be Marotta, played by Silvio Orlando. His iconic line, "I will not judge you, and you will not judge me," defines him as the father figure Parthenope never had. As her anthropology professor, Marotta sees beyond her beauty. He is the one who believes in her future even when she is ready to give up, the pivotal presence that helps her find her way back when all seems lost.

Regarding cinematography, every frame is so meticulously composed that it could be framed as a painting. Though the film portrays Naples as a melancholic city from which people yearn to escape in search of happiness, Parthenope’s cinematography makes us want to step into that world, as if the rebellious soul of its protagonist still lingers in its streets.

However, the film is not without its flaws. Some scenes disrupt the narrative’s harmony, such as the introduction of Marotta’s son, which feels forced and difficult to take seriously. Another shocking scene, which aims to show the harshness of Neapolitan reality is where two young people are forced to consummate a relationship in front of their families to conceive the city’s next leader. While intended to be a social critique, its execution makes it feel gratuitous and disconnected from the film’s overall tone.

Parthenope serves as a harsh critique of Naples in the seventies and eighties, yet in some ways, it remains relevant today. Men court her under the guise of love only to reject her when they do not get what they want; acclaimed actresses who offer her favors in exchange for sexual encounters; a world where everyone, men and women alike, seeks to possess the rebellious and free-spirited Parthenope. However, if the film makes one thing clear, it is that she is much more than her beauty. She is intelligent and audacious. A woman who challenges the world, even if the price is loneliness.

Paolo Sorrentino delivers a story as provocative as it is captivating. While it is certainly not a film for everyone, those who dare to immerse themselves in its universe will find a work that lingers in their memory long after the credits roll.