Sunday 24 November at 21:00

Rome, in the midst of a grand summer. Tourists flock to the Janiculum Hill. A Japanese man collapses from the overwhelming beauty. Jep Gambardella—a handsome man with irresistible charm, despite the first signs of aging—lives life to the fullest in the city’s social scene. He attends elegant dinners and parties, where his sharp wit and pleasant presence are always welcome. A successful journalist and unrepentant ladies’ man, he wrote a novel in his youth that earned him a literary prize and the reputation of a tortured artist. He camouflages his discomfort with cynicism, viewing the world through bitter, sarcastic eyes. On the terrace of his apartment, with a view of the Colosseum, he hosts parties where The Human System—the title of his novel—is stripped bare, and where the comedy of non-existence plays out. Tired of his lifestyle, Jep sometimes dreams of writing again, haunted by memories of a youthful love. But will he succeed? Can he overcome his deep self-loathing and the apathy he feels for others in a city whose dazzling beauty leaves him paralyzed?

Paolo Sorrentino (b. 1970) is an acclaimed Italian director and screenwriter known for visually striking, complex dramas. His films, often compared to Fellini and Antonioni, have earned numerous awards, including an Academy Award, BAFTA, and Cannes prizes. Notable works include Il Divo (2009), The Great Beauty (2013), Youth (2015), The Hand of God (2021), and the TV series The Young Pope (2016). Sorrentino has also written three books and collaborated with musicians like Antonello Venditti.

Lead actor Toni Servillo in attendance