Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Set in Naples, the 2024 Italian film Parthenope by Paolo Sorrentino follows the adventures of its titular protagonist, a young, beautiful woman from a wealthy family, played by Celeste Dalla Porta. The positives first: the film is all about aesthetics, from stunning views of the Italian coasts to vintage hotels, ornate homes, and grand baroque churches, “Parthenope” is all about visual beauty. However, the plot is threadbare. The official synopsis for the film says it’s about a woman “searching for happiness over the long summers of her youth, falling in love with her home city and its many memorable characters.” But this love for Naples is never really expressed clearly on screen.
If I had to summarize the plot for “Parthenope“, it’s essentially a romantic ode to the fictional character, who’s treated like a goddess, with almost everybody around her desiring her, including, tragically, her own brother. Parthenope, constantly reminded of her allure, entertains the admiration without genuine interest, reserving her true dedication for her academic pursuits. Her beauty becomes both her power and burden. She does briefly consider acting, but an encounter with famous actress Greta Cool (Luisa Ranieri) changes her mind.
Creator Paolo Sorrentino forgets the adage “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” and while Celeste Dalla Porta is alluring as Parthenope, it feels exaggerated to see every man (and the occasional woman) happily fall at her feet. Perhaps some fantasy elements or stronger touches of magical realism in the plot might have better justified the protagonist’s overwhelming charm, but that isn’t the case. She is of-course shown to be an intelligent, witty, sharp, intellectual, but nobody is chasing her for her impeccable grades.
Ironically, the most interesting relationship Parthenope builds in the film is a platonic, professional bond with her senior professor, Devoto Marotta (Silvio Orlando): one of the rare characters who has no romantic interest in the beautiful girl. Devoto admires Parthenope’s work as a student, and mentors her to become his assistant at the University, but unfortunately, this sub-plot gets very little time in the film.
Overall, “Parthenope” was a pretty boring watch, and if not for the stunning locales and a great soundtrack, it would have been a completely forgettable affair.
Rating: 2.5 stars on 5. Watch it on Prime Video.
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