The Great Beauty

Winner: Oscar Best Foreign Language Film 2014
★★★★★ 'a shimmering coup de cinema to make your heart burst' - Robbie Collin, The Telegraph
★★★★★ 'a swooning love letter to Roman decadence' - Peter Bradshaw, Guardian
★★★★★ Time Out

First there was Roberto Rossellini; then came Federico Fellini. Now Paolo Sorrentino (Il Divo, This Must Be The Place) joins the distinguished lineup of Rome’s great cinematic poets, combining Rossellini’s social commentary with Fellini’s visual and conceptual opulence.

Wealthy playboy Jep (Servillo) should have been a great novelist, but after publishing just one book he has instead frittered his life away on parties and self-aggrandisement. On the morning after his outrageously decadent (and cinematically delirious) 65th birthday celebrations, he suddenly decides to go in search of some genuine meaning in life – the ‘great beauty’ of the title. His subsequent odyssey through the Rome of his memories, dreams and fantasies exposes him to the hypocrisy and venality of modern Italy, but also to profound spirituality and splendour.

This heartbreaking, stunning film might just be a genuine masterpiece.

Read ICA Film and Cinema Coordinator Nico Marzano's review of The Great Beauty on the ICA Blog →