Film Review: THE HAND OF GOD (2021): Interesting Coming of Age Drama is Bold, Provocative and, At Times, a Bit Odd

The Hand of God Review

The Hand of God (2021) Film Review, a movie directed by Paolo Sorrentino and starring Filippo Scotti, Toni Servillo, Teresa Saponangelo, Marlon Joubert, Luisa Ranieri, Renato Carpentieri, Massimiliano Gallo, Betty Pedrazzi, Lino Musella, Monica Nappo, Biagio Manna and Carmen Pommella.

Italian director Paolo Sorrentino’s new film, The Hand of God, is a 1980’s coming-of-age story with some of the most unlikable supporting characters ever assembled for an inspiring dramatic picture. Set in Naples, the movie mostly revolves around a young man named Fabietto Schisa (the terrific Filippo Scotti) who is easy to relate to even though very strange or bad things tend to happen to his character throughout the film. It is mostly because of Scotti’s performance that the film succeeds. Sorrentino’s direction is heavy and, at times, just plain bizarre but then again so is life, occasionally. Still, whether or not the film will resonate with you depends on how much you relate to the character of Fabietto.

This film opens with Fabietto’s Aunt Patrizia (Luisa Ranieri) who is waiting for a bus one night when she gets a visitor willing to give her a ride and help her with a very precise personal issue. When she returns home to her husband Franco (Massimiliano Gallo), he gets loud and violent proceeding to repeatedly call her a whore. It seems Aunt Patrizia suffers from depression and, at the same time, isn’t afraid to be naked on a boat in a later scene with others surrounding her. Without giving too much away, Ranieri’s character is very complicated and it’s to Ranieri’s credit that the character always maintains the respect of the audience throughout the film.

Fabietto’s parents, Saverio (Toni Servillo) and Maria (Teresa Saponangelo) are sharply written characters who live on the edge, but they are still Fabietto’s parents, for better or worse and Fabietto respects them despite their flaws. Saverio even gives Fabietto advice on love and sex in one of the film’s most intriguing and satisfying scenes.

There is a very odd sex scene that takes place in this movie and to avoid spoilers, I won’t tell you who participates in the sequence. It’s a peculiar scene primarily because of the age difference between the characters involved but also due to the fact that these two characters would actually participate in the act that takes place in the movie. In general terms, it felt like it could happen but didn’t necessarily feel absolutely essential to the film’s plot. Nevertheless, the performers involved handle it well. Everybody will react differently to the scene, and I will be objective in saying it’s tastefully handled.

As Fabietto’s older brother Marchino, Marlon Joubert shines as an actor who auditions for a Fellini movie at one point in the picture. Fabietto and Marchino form a bond which is ultimately tested by tragedy. Ultimately, Fabietto meets director Antonio Capuano (Ciro Capano) who helps Fabietto see more in his life than simply the despair that Fabietto faces later in the picture. Fabietto also meets Armando (Biagio Manna) who has a troubled life as well but one that he cannot escape from whereas Fabietto has a choice of things that he can do with his life as the film progresses towards its somewhat ambiguous conclusion.

The movie’s opening scenes where Fabietto’s family is shown to the audience, and we learn of some of their despicable natures and characteristics are among the most difficult to watch scenes as each character seems to be cruder than the next.  However, the movie slowly proves that there is a reason that these people act like this, and we understand the characters a bit more as the film moves on.

Betty Pedrazzi as a Baroness has a difficult role here and Pedrazzi shines even if some of what is going on around her is not going to please every single audience member. Sorrentino presents complex themes that are realistic and thought-provoking throughout the movie.

Sorrentino isn’t interested in providing answers for every single character’s behavior in The Hand of God but the presentation of Fabietto is important. His love for sports and interest in filmmaking is brilliantly conveyed on screen and Scotti turns in a heartfelt performance that is going to resonate with viewers.

The Hand of God is an interesting film that will keep viewers hooked despite some rather unlikable characters featured throughout. It is worth checking out for its unique style of filmmaking and powerful acting by Scotti.

Rating: 7/10

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