Parthenope

Written, produced and directed by Paolo Sorrentino, Parthenope is a 2024 Italian-French co-production and a coming-of-age drama that draws on Greek mythology. It follows a woman born in 1950 who carries the name of the legendary siren said to have founded Naples. At eighteen, Parthenope throws herself into a changing world, hungry for knowledge and experience. Her celebrated beauty captivates everyone she meets, yet it proves to be as much a burden as a gift: she is loved by all but cannot seem to love in return. Holding herself responsible for her brother's suicide, she spends years searching for the meaning of her life under the weight of guilt. Celeste Dalla Porta plays the young Parthenope, with Stefania Sandrelli, Gary Oldman, Silvio Orlando, Luisa Ranieri, Peppe Lanzetta and Isabella Ferrari among the ensemble. The film premiered in competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in May 2024 and opened in Italian cinemas that October, receiving mixed reviews.