Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Parthenope, born in the sea near Naples in 1950, is beautiful, enigmatic, and intelligent. She is shamelessly courted by many. However, beauty comes at a cost.
Sorrentino's Parthenope is visually ravishing — sun-drenched Naples, languid compositions, and luminous imagery make the cinematography a genuine standout. However, the plot meanders with a loose, episodic structure that prioritizes aesthetic reverie over narrative momentum or character depth, leaving it feeling thin and self-indulgent. The acting is competent with strong individual moments, particularly Celeste Dalla Porta in the lead, though the mythic detachment of the character limits emotional engagement. The film has Sorrentino's distinctive voice but retreads familiar Neapolitan nostalgia and beauty-as-curse themes from his own filmography (La Grande Bellezza), making it feel like a spiritual companion piece rather than something wholly singular. The ending is contemplative and melancholic in a way that fits the film's tone but doesn't fully resolve or illuminate the themes with great insight.