The Great Beauty (2013)

Last updated:
July 19, 2025

The Great Beauty (La Grande Bellezza), directed by Paolo Sorrentino, is a lush, meditative Italian drama that reflects on life, art, aging, and the emptiness of social spectacle. It’s a visually rich and philosophically heavy film, echoing the style of Fellini’s La Dolce Vita. The film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and received critical acclaim for its layered narrative and opulent cinematography.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Jep Gambardella: The Man Behind the Mask

We meet Jep Gambardella (played by Toni Servillo), a suave 65-year-old writer and journalist who has been a staple of Rome’s elite social scene for decades. Once a promising novelist, Jep published one acclaimed novel in his youth, then abandoned serious writing to indulge in the high life. The story begins at his decadent birthday party, filled with Rome’s aging socialites, models, performance artists, and various eccentric characters. Jep is charming, ironic, and disillusioned, and the party atmosphere already hints at the hollowness that lies beneath Rome’s glittering surface.

Rome’s Hollow Grandeur

As Jep strolls through ancient ruins and ultra-modern rooftops, the film presents Rome not just as a city, but as a character—eternal, beautiful, but increasingly soulless. Jep begins to reflect on his past, haunted by memories of youth and love, especially his first and possibly only real romantic connection: Elisa. Her death sparks a series of existential musings and an emotional unraveling that compels him to question the meaning of his existence.

Encounters With the Absurd and the Sacred

Throughout the film, Jep encounters a bizarre cast of characters: a self-absorbed performance artist who runs headfirst into a stone wall; a Botoxed socialite who denies her failures; an egomaniacal magician who makes giraffes disappear; and a cardinal more interested in haute cuisine than spiritual matters. These surreal episodes mix satire with melancholy, highlighting the absurdity of the lives Jep and his peers lead.

Amid the decadence, he also meets Sister Maria, a 104-year-old nun known for her saintliness. Her radical simplicity and self-denial starkly contrast the artificiality Jep is surrounded by. Their final conversation pushes him toward a deeper understanding of beauty, suffering, and spiritual truth.

Movie Ending

In the final scenes, Jep finds himself on a quiet rooftop, observing the Tiber River and reflecting on his past. After decades of distraction and surface-level living, he begins to access the emotional core of his life, finally confronting the pain of lost love, time squandered, and the artistic promise he abandoned.

The ending is marked by Jep’s acceptance of the pain that beauty and memory bring. Through voiceover, he describes the “vibrations” of life—the connections, the grace, and the suffering that make life beautiful even in its sadness. He recalls his first night with Elisa and the genuine intimacy they shared, suggesting that this memory might be the “great beauty” he’s been seeking all along.

The film ends not with a resolution, but with a poetic sense of surrender. Jep doesn’t find clear answers, but he rediscovers emotional depth and a renewed capacity to feel. The final shot, a slow glide over the river and ruins of Rome, closes the film with quiet majesty, suggesting both loss and transcendence.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, The Great Beauty does not include any post-credits scenes. Once the end credits roll, the film is truly over—no Marvel-style surprises here. The conclusion is intentionally complete, allowing the final moments of reflection to linger.

Type of Movie

The Great Beauty is best described as a philosophical drama, with strong elements of satire, surrealism, and art house cinema. It’s a meditative character study with poetic visuals and dreamlike sequences, leaning more on mood and theme than traditional plot.

Cast

Toni Servillo as Jep Gambardella
Carlo Verdone as Romano
Sabrina Ferilli as Ramona
Galatea Ranzi as Stefania
Pamela Villoresi as Viola
Franco Graziosi as Count Colonna
Giorgio Pasotti as Stefano

Film Music and Composer

The score is composed by Lele Marchitelli, but the film also includes a wide variety of classical and contemporary music that underscores its emotional and spiritual tone. Pieces from Arvo Pärt, David Lang, and John Tavener are used alongside more upbeat party tracks, reinforcing the contrast between Rome’s decadence and its contemplative core.

Filming Locations

Filming took place entirely in Rome, Italy, using a mixture of iconic landmarks and hidden gems:

Colosseum, Palazzo Spada, and Janiculum Hill: Used to display the grandeur and history of Rome.
Villa Medici and various palaces: Represent the opulent but decaying homes of Rome’s elite.
The Tiber River: Symbolic of the flow of time and Jep’s inner journey.
The Aventine Keyhole and Terme di Caracalla: Lesser-known but visually stunning backdrops.

The contrast between these breathtaking locations and the emptiness of the characters’ lives is a major theme in the film.

Awards and Nominations

Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (2014)
Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film
BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language
Cannes Film Festival (Official Selection)
Numerous wins at European Film Awards, including Best Film and Best Director

Behind the Scenes Insights

Paolo Sorrentino was heavily inspired by Fellini, especially La Dolce Vita.
Toni Servillo wore the same linen suits throughout filming to reflect Jep’s detachment from time and change.
Sorrentino filmed scenes at 5 AM to capture Rome’s empty beauty, creating an ethereal, timeless quality.
Many of the extras at Jep’s parties were real Roman aristocrats and intellectuals.
The rooftop flamingos were a last-minute addition, symbolizing absurdity and grace in equal measure.

Inspirations and References

Fellini’s La Dolce Vita is the most obvious touchstone.
The writing style mimics the introspective, symbolic prose of Marcel Proust and Italo Calvino.
The film references Catholic mysticism, existential philosophy, and Baroque art, especially in its themes of vanity, mortality, and divine silence.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

While there are no widely released alternate endings, some scenes were trimmed for pacing. These include longer conversations with Jep’s acquaintances and an extended performance art segment. The final vision of Elisa was reportedly edited down to keep the ending more ambiguous and lyrical.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The Great Beauty is not based on a book, though it’s often compared to literary works because of its introspective and symbolic nature. The character of Jep may remind viewers of literary figures like Gustave Flaubert’s Frédéric Moreau or Proust’s Narrator—men caught between reflection and regret.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

Jep walking alone through the quiet ruins of Rome at dawn.
The rooftop meeting with the cardinal discussing cuisine instead of spirituality.
The child performance artist tantrum during a “silent scream” exhibit.
The magical giraffe scene in the Coliseum.

Iconic Quotes

“I was looking for the great beauty. But I didn’t find it.”
“This is how it always ends. With death.”
“The best people in Rome are the tourists.”
“To this question, as kids, we already had the answer. Then, we forget it.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

Jep’s initials (J.G.) may subtly reference J.D. Salinger, another one-hit author who stopped publishing.
The aging nun’s bed is in the shape of a cross, symbolizing self-sacrifice.
The performance art scenes parody real-life avant-garde acts.
A subtle nod to La Dolce Vita is present in a fountain scene shot similarly to the famous Trevi Fountain scene.

Trivia

The film took over 8 months to shoot due to waiting for specific lighting conditions in Rome.
Jep’s character is loosely based on Ennio Flaiano, an Italian screenwriter and journalist.
The nightclub where the opening party takes place is a real location in Rome, often used for fashion shows.
Despite being 65, Toni Servillo did many of his own dance scenes in the film.

Why Watch?

Watch The Great Beauty if you’re drawn to cinematic poetry, philosophical depth, and visually breathtaking storytelling. It’s a meditation on life’s fleeting pleasures, missed opportunities, and the search for meaning in a world obsessed with appearances. Think of it as Eat Pray Love meets Fellini, minus the clichés and with a lot more depth.

The Great Beauty (2013)