Paolo Sorrentino's 'La Grande Bellezza': A Moralist, Decadent Portrait of Contemporary Italy

In her review for Artribune, Helga Marsala assesses Paolo Sorrentino's 2013 film 'La Grande Bellezza,' describing it as a moralistic piece that reveals the vices and obsessions of modern Italy. She contends that the film reinterprets Fellini's 'La Dolce Vita' into a bleak, nihilistic vision. Marsala dismisses the notion that Sorrentino merely imitates Fellini, asserting that introspection is vital in an era marked by a lack of awareness. The narrative follows Jep Gambardella, portrayed by Toni Servillo, and is steeped in themes of death and the mundane. While she acknowledges it isn't a masterpiece, she commends its cinematography, soundtrack, script, and performances, including those by Sabrina Ferilli and Carlo Verdone. The film earned the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2014.