In Greek mythology, Parthenope was of the three sirens. They were warnings to men about the alluring dangers women can present. While we’ll likely see more of these sirens in Christopher Nolan’s next film, based on The Odyssey, in some ways audiences are getting an adoptive preview with the newly released Italian film, Parthenope.
Parthenope is mostly based in the city of Naples, and follows the life of the enchanting woman, Parthenope (Celeste Dalla Porta). She is doted on even before her birth, and goes through life with the advantages one might expect a beautiful woman to have. However, while it’s impossible not to make some use of her natural born gifts, Parthenope is not about her manipulation of men, but instead about how she herself is manipulated by the world.
Beyond her outward attractiveness, Parthenope is an incredibly intelligent woman. While she does what she wants, her life is greatly impacted by a number of incidents throughout the film. How these scenes play out, and Parthenope’s reaction to those scenes offers subtle insight into her internal psyche, and how the world views her.
She meets the American writer, John Cheever (Gary Oldman), while on vacation. He educates her on both beauty, and the value of time and being. But during that same vacation, she’s insulted by a wealthy man only interested in conquering her physical prowess. Parthenope suffers through abandonment issues with her family, and turns a college professor into a mentor, but only listens to some of his advice.
How the audience is meant to view Parthenope, her many suitors, and how she interacts with the world around her, is what makes the film shine. However, the meaning of the film isn’t spelled out for everyone to see. When coupled with a foreign language, subtitled film, American audiences may have difficulty fully grasping everything that Parthenope offers.
With a runtime of over two hours, and a number of barriers of entry for average America moviegoers, Parthenope can be a hard pill to swallow. But there’s beauty in the depth of what writer/director Paolo Sorrentino has accomplished in the film. Patient audiences will be mesmerized, not by Parthenope’s beauty, but by the trials she must face throughout her privileged life, and how she navigates such privilege.
Those who have the patience and time to enjoy a foreign language film will find an enticingly deep dissection of the human condition. If you enjoy cinema, Parthenope will make you think about your choices in life as you leave the theater. This isn’t a film for everyone, but there’s an emotional connection waiting for those who take the time to understand Parthenope.
About Parthenope
Synopsis: An Italian woman searches for happiness during the long summers of her youth, falling in love with her city and its many memorable characters.
Director: Paolo Sorrentino
Writer: Paolo Sorrentino
Stars: Celeste Dalla Porta, Stefania Sandrelli, Gary Oldman
Rated: R
Runtime: 2 Hours, 16 Minutes
Bryan Dawson has been writing professionally since the age of 13. He started his career as a video game writer and has since worked for Random House, Prima Games, DirecTV, IGN, AOL, the British Government, and various other organizations. For GNN, Bryan taps into his passion for movies.
- Bryan Dawsonhttps://geeknewsnetwork.net/author/bdawson1/
- Bryan Dawsonhttps://geeknewsnetwork.net/author/bdawson1/
- Bryan Dawsonhttps://geeknewsnetwork.net/author/bdawson1/
- Bryan Dawsonhttps://geeknewsnetwork.net/author/bdawson1/
