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The Great Beauty (La grande bellezza)

Movie · 2013 · 4 people

Paolo Sorrentino wrote and directed The Great Beauty (La grande bellezza), an Italian-French comedy-drama running roughly 142 minutes. It satirises Rome's high society with admiration and mockery in equal measure and is often read as a present-day echo of Fellini's La dolce vita. It reached Turkish cinemas on 7 February 2014.

At its centre is Jep Gambardella, a writer turning 65, played by Toni Servillo. Famous in his youth for a single novel, Jep has not written another; he has settled into a comfortable, empty routine of newspaper pieces and parties. When he learns after his birthday that his first love has died, he begins to question the years that have passed and sees Rome anew from his terrace overlooking the Colosseum. Carlo Verdone and Sabrina Ferilli also have leading roles.

Shooting began in Rome on 9 August 2012. The film cost about 9.2 million euros and earned more than 24 million dollars worldwide. It had its world premiere in competition for the Palme d'Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, went on to win best foreign-language film at the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes and the BAFTAs, and took European Film Awards for best film, director, actor and editing.

DirectorPaolo Sorrentino
Production companyMedusa Film

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Cast

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Iaia Forte Iaia Forte Actor · 64 years old Pamela Villoresi Pamela Villoresi Actor · 69 years old Isabella Ferrari Isabella Ferrari Actor · 62 years old Fanny Ardant Fanny Ardant Actor · 77 years old

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Through different eyes

Cinephile Looks at script, editing and directing choices; keeps a distance from formula films.

Paolo Sorrentino's The Great Beauty is an ambitious film that makes no secret of its kinship with Fellini's La dolce vita. Rather than a classical plot, the narrative rests on Jep Gambardella, a writer who stopped after the one novel of his youth, questioning the years gone by. Toni Servillo forms the film's spine with a performance that carries irony and sorrow at once. Its satirical balance, looking at Roman high society with both admiration and mockery, is its boldest quality. The European Film Award for editing is worth noting. Even so, the 142-minute running time can make some party scenes feel repetitive, and the structure loses its rhythm at times. That it won best foreign-language film at the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes and the BAFTAs shows that its ambition largely paid off.

Action & Thriller Fan Puts pace, tension and set pieces first; little patience for slow drama.

Straight talk: 142 minutes, plenty of parties and long reflective moments. Don't expect a plot in the classic sense. For someone like me who wants pace, this is a tough test. No tension, no chases, no big goal. The awards list is impressive, though, Oscar included. If you have a patient evening, give it a chance for the views of Rome. If you want something fast, this isn't it.

These are not reader reviews: they are short editorial takes written from different viewer perspectives with AI assistance. Reader reviews are below.

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