Movie Number 2 of 2025
The Film: Parthenope
The Cinema: Palace Cinemas Balwyn
Stars: 3
It's hot in Melbourne this weekend, therefore the cinema is the place to be. It also means that I'd see almost anything to get away from the heat.
Parthenope (pronounced Par-ten-oh-pey, not Par-then-ope) was one of the films in the "Yeah, this looks interesting," and "Yeah, it was at the Italian Film Festival," so we gave it a go. I didn't read anything about this before going, and Jay said she thought it was something about a mermaid.
So, we went along.
It's not about a mermaid.
Things to know about Parthenope, which would have been good before I went in.
1) Parthenope was a sprite. According to Wikipedia, "According to Greek legend, Parthenope cast herself into the sea and drowned when her songs failed to entice Odysseus. Her body washed ashore at Naples, on the island of Megaride, where the Castel dell'Ovo is now located. Her tomb on the island was called "constraction of sirens". When people from the city of Cumae settled there, they named their city Parthenope in her honour."
2) The film is a bit of a love song to Naples. Paulo Sorrentino has done a good job with this.
3) There is very little plot or story to this. At two hours and sixteen minutes, this feels a bit long.
Making life even more interesting, there were two older women sitting in front of us talking loudly. Before the film they were nattering on for the rest of the cinema to hear, and after about five minutes, one of them proclaimed, "This is going to be in Italian..." (No shit, Sherlock...) Thankfully, after this, their interjections were rare. I thought they would have been chattier.
On the good side of this film, it is stunning to watch. Daria D'Antonio's cinematography is astounding. Also, Celeste Della Porta, who plays the younger Parthenope drinks up the camera. She is rudely gorgeous. In the film, Parthenope has also been blessed with a brain, which she takes measures to cultivate. It's the film's saving grace.
But there is very little plot. There was a line later in the film where one of the characters states that Parthenope doesn't use her beauty for her own gains. And she doesn't. Parthenope is a very neutral character as others around her have their troubles, in which she chooses to observe, rather than participate There is a good section with Gary Oldman, who plays and old, gay writer. The rest of the film meanders onwards.
Looking at the reviews, it's split the critics, some loving it, others not so much.
If there is a message from this film, it's that beauty is only skin deep. It also demonstrates a male gaze, which was tolerable until it became intolerable during the scenes at the church.
In all, this was a great way to escape the heat. Do I recommend it - no, not unless you want to look at something very pretty which is a bit all over the place. It does show Naples at its best.
And yes, I've been pretty cagey about what this film is about - mainly because the plot and narrative was so unfocussed.
I'd keep this one for the Film Festival junkies. There are a lot more interesting and accessible films to see coming out in the next weeks.
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