25/31

Is she a mermaid or a myth?

Chronology

Parthenope is a woman named after her city. In Greek myth, Parthenope is the mermaid who committed suicide after failing to charm Odysseus.

In the film, Parthenope is the embodiment of the city of Naples

Her body was washed up on the spot where Castel dell’Ovo is now built, and for this she gave the name to the city that would later become Neapolis, Naples. WarmthWritten by Peter GregsonPerformed by Peter Gregson, Warren Zielinski, Magdalena Filipczak, Laurie Anderson, Ashok Klouda.

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 derogatory speech in front of her “former”; fellow citizens and despite the sight of her bald head, Parthenope listens to his "advice" and touches his face with great pity. At this moment I realized that the film is not about the beauty of some mythical mermaid, but about the beauty she sees in people beyond appearances.

No, Parthenope manifests 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

Moreover, it does not happen after she has lost her youth, as her teacher suggests – if so, with his upset performance on the exam, he would not have managed to impress her either. And because she is a personification of Naples, the human imperfections she sees through are connected to the history of the city – with ignorance and misery, patriarchal oppression, facade religiosity and superstition, violence.

Still, 8 out of 10 because of the slight sense of pretentiousness

All of this is presented in the most brutal, horrific scenes, but in Parthenope those who embody them find understanding and acceptance and become miracles. You can’t be arrogant when you advocate for embracing all souls.