The Last Beautiful Thing

Critical response

Although the film caused division during its presentation at the Berlinale, the Italian critics have usually judged Luongo's first work positively, appreciating its social aspects:^[17][18]

«"The Last Beautiful Thing" is a generational cry [...] At the Berlin Film Festival the film splits the audience in two»

and the directorial line adopted for the narration:^[1]

«The young director's film goes beyond denunciation. It is a real slap in the face to today's society, which knows, is aware, but sometimes, keeps away from youthful desperation.»

Overall, the film was described as a courageous, raw, and deeply moving directorial debut, noted for its ability to capture the loneliness and vulnerabilities of today's youth through Adele's story, navigating between the excesses of Neapolitan nightlife and a more intimate search for meaning. Several critics defined the feature film as unconventional and thought-provoking. The director was praised for his courage in addressing youth distress and alienation without resorting to easy moralisms, offering instead an authentic and painful portrayal. Critics appreciated the direction, which successfully conveys a strong sense of realism, as well as the performances of the young protagonists, deemed intense and well-suited to giving voice to the complex psychology of the characters. Reviewers frequently highlighted how the narrative touches deep emotional chords, transforming a story of perdition into a journey of hope and the discovery of hidden beauty in small things. The film was occasionally described as an intense and necessary cinematic experience, standing out in the Italian independent film landscape for its intellectual honesty and visual power.^{[19][20][21][22][23]}

Accolades