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Parthenope (2024)

2024 • 2h 17m • Drama • R
On September 23, 2026
#4005▼ 278
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CinemaSerf on Parthenope

6/10 · May 25, 2025

The character of “Parthenope” (Celeste Dalla Porta) evokes comparisons to Aphrodite, arising from the sea and captivating the men around her. These include her brother, “Raimondo” (Daniele Rienzo), who is consumed by an infatuation with her, and “Sandrino” (Dario Aita), a childhood friend whose unreturned affection leads to considerable distress. Raimondo’s fixation proves more intense than Sandrino's. Their group embarks on a journey from Naples to Capri, where Parthenope encounters Cheever, an aging American writer/alcoholic (Gary Oldman). He finds her fascinating but seems resistant to her allure—something she isn't accustomed to experiencing. During this seemingly lighthearted excursion, a tragic event occurs that forces them all to confront the harsh realities and fleeting nature of their existence, highlighting feelings of sorrow, disappointment, and hollowness. The film is visually stunning, utilizing minimal dialogue while maintaining an undercurrent of sexual tension and a lavish aesthetic. However, it ultimately feels empty, like a postcard featuring a lovely image but lacking sufficient detail to develop the characters or give substance to their flawless presentation. As the second half progresses, the narrative begins to feel drawn out, resembling a self-indulgent display that draws from mythology yet struggles to connect on a deeper level. It's undeniably elegant and fashionable, making it worth seeing—though it seems Paolo Sorrentino’s primary goal is simply for viewers to observe its appearance.

Source on TMDB