As "The Hand of God" (2021 release from Italy; 130 min.) opens, we are introduced to a woman named Patrizia. She gets involved with a stranger who claims to be able to make her have babies. When she gets home, Patrizia's husband is none too pleased. We then get to know Fabietto, a 17 yr old boy who lives with his parents and older brother. Fabietto asks his dad whether Maradona will join the Napoli soccer team, to which his dad responds "no way Maradona would come here!". At this point we are 10 min into the movie.
Couple of comments: this is the latest opus from respected (and Oscar-winning) Italian writer-director Paulo Sorrentino ("Youth", "The Great Beauty"). Here Serrentino goes back to his roots growing up in Napoli, and he brings us a sprawling, Robert Altman-reminding family tale with more characters than you can keep track of. As a result, it takes a while for us the viewers to settle in on what is happening and with whom. There are several major plot twists along the way so the less said about that, the better. PLEASE NOTE: this movie is NOT a sports movie about Diego Maradona in any way, shape or form. Maradona simply is mentioned as a recurring conversation piece. (Not to mention that his (in)famous 1986 World Cup "hand of God" goal doesn't fit the chronological time line of this movie.) Sorrentino puts a lot of time and effort in recreating Napoli as it was in the mid-80s, and with great effect. However, the movie is a bit overlong for its own good.
"The Hand of God" premiered at this year's Venice film festival to critical acclaim. It started streaming on Netflix earlier this week (no theatrical release in the US that I'm aware of). If you are in the mood for a rich family and coming-of-age drama set in Napoli in the 1890s, even if it's a bit long, I'd readily suggest you check this out on Netflix, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: this is the latest opus from respected (and Oscar-winning) Italian writer-director Paulo Sorrentino ("Youth", "The Great Beauty"). Here Serrentino goes back to his roots growing up in Napoli, and he brings us a sprawling, Robert Altman-reminding family tale with more characters than you can keep track of. As a result, it takes a while for us the viewers to settle in on what is happening and with whom. There are several major plot twists along the way so the less said about that, the better. PLEASE NOTE: this movie is NOT a sports movie about Diego Maradona in any way, shape or form. Maradona simply is mentioned as a recurring conversation piece. (Not to mention that his (in)famous 1986 World Cup "hand of God" goal doesn't fit the chronological time line of this movie.) Sorrentino puts a lot of time and effort in recreating Napoli as it was in the mid-80s, and with great effect. However, the movie is a bit overlong for its own good.
"The Hand of God" premiered at this year's Venice film festival to critical acclaim. It started streaming on Netflix earlier this week (no theatrical release in the US that I'm aware of). If you are in the mood for a rich family and coming-of-age drama set in Napoli in the 1890s, even if it's a bit long, I'd readily suggest you check this out on Netflix, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.