The Hand of God (, ) is a 2021 Italian drama film written, directed, and produced by Paolo Sorrentino. It stars Filippo Scotti, Toni Servillo, Teresa Saponangelo, Marlon Joubert, Luisa Ranieri, Renato Carpentieri, Massimiliano Gallo, Betti Pedrazzi, Biagio Manna, and Ciro Capano. The film refers autobiographically to Sorrentino's youth in Naples.
It competed for the Golden Lion at the 78th Venice International Film Festival where it won the Grand Jury Prize and where Filippo Scotti received the Marcello Mastroianni Award. It was released in a limited release on 24 November 2021, followed by streaming on Netflix on 15 December 2021. It was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards.
Plot
In the 1980s, young Fabietto lives at home in Naples with his father Saverio Schisa and mother Maria Schisa. He doesn’t have many friends or a lover, and wants to study philosophy in college. For the time being, he mainly spends time listening to music and watching Diego Maradona play for his home team, Napoli. His brother Marchino takes him to acting auditions and sympathizes with his affection for their emotionally troubled aunt Patrizia. Fabietto’s parents are building a new home in Roccaraso. They visit the home without Fabietto who decides to stay at home. His parents die of carbon monoxide from the fireplace in the new home. Due to this, Fabietto comes of age in a cruel and brutal manner.
Cast
Filippo Scotti as Fabietto Schisa
Toni Servillo as Saverio Schisa
Teresa Saponangelo as Maria Schisa
Luisa Ranieri as Patrizia
Massimiliano Gallo as Franco
Renato Carpentieri as Alfredo
Ciro Capano as Antonio Capuano
Marlon Joubert as Marchino Schisa
Betti Pedrazzi as Baronessa Focale
Biagio Manna as Armando
Enzo De Caro as San Gennaro
Sofya Gershevich as Yulia
Roberto Oliveri as Maurizio
Lino Musella as Mariettiello
Cristiana Dell'Anna as Armando's sister
Monica Nappo as Silvana
Carmen Pommella as Annarella
Adriano Saleri as Federico Fellini's assistant
Alfonso Perugini as Dante Ferretti
Production
In July 2020, it was announced Paolo Sorrentino would write, direct, and produce the film, with Netflix attached to distribute. That same month, a lawyer for Diego Maradona stated he was considering legal action against the film for its title, as it is a reference to Maradona's 1986 FIFA World Cup goal against England, and use of Maradona's image was not authorized. Netflix responded that the film is not a sports film or about Maradona and instead a personal story inspired by Sorrentino's youth. In September 2020, Toni Servillo joined the cast of the film, with principal photography commencing that same month, in Naples, Italy.
Release
The Hand of God had its world premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on 2 September 2021. It became available worldwide on Netflix on 15 December 2021.
Reception
Critical response
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 83% based on 143 reviews, with an average rating of 7.3/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Although The Hand of God isn't Sorrentino's best work, this beautifully filmed coming-of-age story sings in a beguiling, albeit minor, key." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 76 out of 100, based on 36 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Accolades
See also
List of submissions to the 94th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film List of Italian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
References
External links
Official screenplay (English) Official screenplay (Italian)