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Netflix 'The Hand of God': 5 things about the Italian drama starring Filippo Scotti

Directed by Paolo Sorrentino, the film was chosen as the Italian entry for the 'Best International Feature Film' at the 94th Academy Awards

'The Hand of God' can be best described as "intriguing" and the trailer gives a glimpse of why the movie opened to positive critical acclaim when it competed for the Golden Lion at the 78th Venice International Film Festival. The drama won the Grand Jury Prize and had a limited theatrical release on November 24 as well.

The film was also chosen as the Italian entry for the 'Best International Feature Film' at the 94th Academy Awards and is all set to debut on Netflix this month. Directed by Paolo Sorrentino, the film follows the life of Fabietto Schisa in the '80s Naples as he takes life's blows and blessings on the chin as it comes. Here's what Roger Ebert's opening lines of the movie review say: "With his rich coming-of-age drama “The Hand of God,” Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino not only courts, but squashes comparisons to formative maestro Federico Fellini." Many viewers (and critics) will probably still compare “The Hand of God,” which Sorrentino wrote and directed, to Fellini’s “I Vitelloni” or “Amarcord,” and with some reason. In “The Hand of God,” Sorrentino (“The Great Beauty”) adapts events from his own life. His characters also often behave like the sort of charming, vulgar regional caricatures that Fellini sketched with vigorous broad strokes in his movies."

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With this, here are five things to know ahead of the movie's release on Netflix.

When does 'The Hand of God' release

'The Hand of God' releases on December 15, 2021, on Netflix. 

What is the Italian flick all about

The official synopsis reads: "From Academy Award-winning writer and director Paolo Sorrentino (Il Divo, The Great Beauty, The Young Pope) comes the story of a boy, Fabietto Schisa, set in the tumultuous Naples of the 1980s. The Hand of God is a story full of unexpected joys, such as the arrival of football legend Diego Maradona, and an equally unexpected tragedy. Fate plays its part, joy and tragedy intertwine, and Fabietto’s future is set in motion. Sorrentino returns to his hometown to tell his most personal story, a tale of fate and family, sports and cinema, love and loss."

Who stars in 'The Hand of God'

The ensemble cast comprises of Filippo Scotti as Fabietto Schisa, Toni Servillo ('The Great Beauty') as Saverio Schisa, Teresa Saponangelo ('Tartufo') as Maria Schisa, Luisa Ranieri ('Raya and the Last Dragon') as Patrizia, Massimiliano Gallo ('Me, Myself and Her ') as Franco, Renato Carpentieri as Alfredo, Marlon Joubert as Marchino Schisa, and Betti Pedrazzi as Baronessa Focale. 

Writer/Director

Paolo Sorrentino ('Rio, I Love You') writes and directs the film. Lorenzo Mieli serves as the producer.

Trailer