The plot is episodic, almost plotless. Jep drifts from one bizarre social gathering to another—roof parties with fireworks, performance art involving a little girl throwing paint, exclusive dinners with cardinals and strippers. But the narrative spine is triggered by the death of his first love. Her passing forces him to confront his own mortality and the realization that his "great beauty"—his social status and aesthetic lifestyle—has been a long distraction from the emptiness within.

"The Great Beauty" (La Grande Bellezza) is an Italian drama film that revolves around Jep Gambardella, a charming and successful journalist and writer (played by Toni Servillo), who hasn't published a book in years and hasn't written anything meaningful for a long time. Jep spends his days wandering through Rome, attending glamorous parties, and engaging in witty conversations with a plethora of colorful characters. Through Jep's observations and reflections, the film provides a commentary on the decadence and superficiality of the upper class and the evolving landscape of Rome.

Even in a compressed 1080p rip, the visual language of this film is undeniable. Sorrentino, along with cinematographer Luca Bigazzi, frames Rome like a living, breathing oil painting.