Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
In 1980s Naples, an awkward teen struggling to find his place experiences heartbreak and liberation after he's inadvertently saved from a freak accident by football legend Diego Maradona.
Sorrentino's semi-autobiographical coming-of-age drama is elevated by luminous Naples cinematography and a richly observed ensemble of eccentric family characters. The acting is a genuine standout — the cast breathes life into every corner of this world, and Filippo Scotti anchors it with raw naturalism. Visually, Sorrentino composes Naples with the same operatic eye as his best work, making the city a living character. The plot, while emotionally resonant, follows a fairly familiar arc of loss and awakening, and the Maradona framing device is more evocative symbol than structural innovation. The ending is heartfelt but somewhat diffuse, landing on a note of melancholic hope that feels true to life if not dramatically conclusive. Novelty is moderate — the film is distinctly Sorrentino's voice but navigates well-trodden coming-of-age and grief territory without fully transcending it.