Letter to Paolo Sorrentino

Open letter from Sophie B to Paolo Sorrentino
“The Hand of God”

28 December 2021,

Buongiorno Paolo Sorrentino,

Thank you for your latest film. I've resonated a lot with the Capuano final scene as my mom has suddenly become critically ill the past two months and I'm only 23 years old, and my whole life has been turned upside down. I'm not ready to lose her and never experienced grief but I know Capuano's words will resonate as strongly inside me for the rest of my life as they do now, no matter what happens.
I've been holding it together by writing my first novel, a coming-of-age story about her migrating to France from Morocco when she was around my age now, and a parallel story with my own doubts and start of adult life now, as I reflect on who she was as a young woman. I've always wanted to write but felt like the story had to come my way first.
And now that it did, and that it has become vital for me to pour my heart into it, I'm completing the final draft with your vision and words echoing inside my head.
I know I want to write the way you do, and convey the images you film and produce. I'm studying journalism but now I can't ignore it anymore, I can't help but listen to the voice inside my head that's begging to express itself, and that feels like a parent's sickness, a parent's death, is like oneself's.

And so we need to give in to the short time that's given to us in this life to tell Life what's on our heart. Seeing you push through the pain and do it, deciding not to run away from it but rather use it and embody it into your works of art is the inspiration I needed.

E stata la mano di Dio, davvero!

Sophie, Marseille (France)

Author: Sophie B