32/30
Parthenope is a woman named after her city. Is she a siren or a myth? In Greek myth, Parthenope is the siren who commits suicide after failing to enchant Odysseus. Her body was washed up by the tide to where Castel dell’Ovo is now built, and for this she gives the name to the city that would later become Neapolis, Naples. In the film, Parthenope is the embodiment of the city of Naples.. Heat, Written by Peter Gregson, Performed by Peter Gregson, Warren Zielinski, Magdalena Filipczak, Laurie Anderson, Ashok Kluda. At first I was annoyed and was sure I wouldn’t make it to the end, but then the scene with the aging star caught my attention. After her humiliating speech in front of her "former" fellow citizens and despite the sight of her balding head, Parthenope listens to her "advice" and touches her face with great kindness. At that moment I realized that the film is not about the beauty of some mythical siren, but about the beauty she sees in people beyond appearances. Moreover, this does not happen after she has lost her youth, as her professor suggests – if that were the case, with her gloomy performance on the exam he would not have been able to impress her. No, Parthenope demonstrates her superpower throughout her life and the examples are numerous: when she reads John Cheever, alcoholic, depressed, a miracle; when she passionately kisses the disfigured acting teacher… And because she is the personification of Naples, the human imperfections through which she sees are connected to the history of the city – with ignorance and misery, patriarchal oppression, facade religiosity and superstition, violence. All this is shown in the most brutal, terrifying scenes, but in Parthenope those who embody them find understanding and acceptance and become miracles. Still 8 out of 10 for the slight sense of pretentiousness. You can’t be arrogant when you advocate embracing all souls.