A24 knows sex sells, so it’s no surprise its first US trailer Partenope Full of temptation.
Newcomer Celeste Dalla Porta plays the titular Parthenope, appearing in various stages of undress throughout, dripping out of the sea in a bikini and wearing religious jewelry , barely covering her modesty, entangled with her companion, looking like foreplay before a threesome.
It’s all sun, sea and sex. Gary Oldman plays the alcoholic John Cheever and has only one line to Parthenope: “Do you realize the havoc your beauty has caused?” indicating what lurks below. With some darkness.
This film is Paolo Sorrentino’s love letter to Naples and his second love letter after 2021 hand of god – and Partenope, a mysterious, irresistible beauty, is a stand-in for the city’s mysterious attraction to him. It’s hard not to be mesmerized by the version you see on screen, brought to life with dazzling colors and cohesive compositions by cinematographer Daria D’Antonio, who also shot the version hand of godand costumes designed by YSL creative director Anthony Vaccarello, one of the film’s producers.
A24 acquires North American rights Partenope ahead of its world premiere in competition at the Cannes Film Festival in May. hollywood reporter Reviews of the film were mixed, praising Sorrentino’s flamboyant style but noting a lack of narrative depth. “Sorrentino’s taste for exaggerated imagery allowed the director to indulge his worst instincts, as he had so often done in the past, and fall into Fellini-like territory…[The film’s] Visual flourishes distract us like shiny objects.
A24 has not yet set a domestic release date partenope. Plans to position Italy as an awards season contender were derailed when Italy snubbed Oscar winner Sorrentino and opted for Moura del Perro’s Venice Silver Lion winner red As an entry for the best international feature.
