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Movie Review: The Hand of God

Mike Tyrkus

Director Paolo Sorrentino’s gorgeous new film, The Hand of God (“È stata la mano di Dio“), is an interesting piece of work in that it is a deeply emotional and autobiographical piece that unfortunately strays a little too much in its middle section before finding its way again in the final act.

The film follows a teenage boy named Fabietto Schisa (Filippo Scotti) in 1980s Naples. There, Fabietto lives with his parents Saverio and Maria (Toni Servillo and Teresa Saponangelo), brother, and sister (who spends a considerable portion of the film in the bathroom). The family is introduced via a much larger gathering including the extended family before switching over to the more intimate setting of the immediate Schisa family. Essentially a coming-of-age tale – albeit with an unfortunate intrusion of fate deciding how soon young Fabietto does, in fact, come of age – the film runs through a myriad of events that shape Fabietto’s character, solidifying his notions of love and loss as well as his love of sports and cinema.

Toni Servillo and Filippo Scotti in “The Hand of God” (“È stata la mano di Dio”).

The script, also written by Sorrentino, may meander a bit towards the end of the second act as it (and Fabietto) tries to find its final destination, but it eventually lands in the right way, as Fabietto’s character and outlook seem to be on solid ground. Overall, the film is gorgeous, thanks in no small way to the cinematography provided by Daria D’Antonio. It is easy to see exactly why such a beautiful place inspired Sorrentino in the way that it did.

Carrying the film from beginning to end, Filippo Scotti delivers a remarkably nuanced performance that takes his character through the worst parts of adolescence that perhaps a young man could singularly endure. That being said, there is a sub textual story that involves the coming of football legend Diego Maradona, that provides a definitive moment of joy and happiness for everyone in Naples. But, as it is in life, happiness and tragedy often coexist and tragedy eventually befalls Fabietto in great quantities, shaping him into the man he becomes.

Although it comes up just a shade short of being perfect all the way through, Paolo Sorrentino’s The Hand of God is a beautiful and engaging autobiographical journey that ultimately delivers a satisfying and emotional climax.

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Mike Tyrkus

Editor in Chief at CinemaNerdz.com
An independent filmmaker, co-writer and director of over a dozen short films, the Editor in Chief of CinemaNerdz.com has spent much of the last three decades as a writer and editor specializing in biographical and critical reference sources in literature and the cinema, beginning in February 1991 reviewing films for his college newspaper. He was a member of the Detroit Film Critics Society, as well as the group's webmaster and one-time President for over a decade until the group ceased to exist. His contributions to film criticism can be found in Magill's Cinema Annual, VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever (of which he was the editor for nearly a decade until it too ceased to exist), the International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, and the St. James Film Directors Encyclopedia (on which he collaborated with editor Andrew Sarris). He has also appeared on the television program Critic LEE Speaking alongside Lee Thomas of FOX2 and Adam Graham, of The Detroit News. He currently lives in the Detroit area with his wife and their dogs.

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