Loro (2018): Power, Excess, and the Price of Influence in Modern Italy

Paolo Sorrentino’s Loro (2018) is a provocative, uncompromising exploration of power, ambition, and moral decay in contemporary Italy. Known for his stylized and visually striking cinema, Sorrentino once again blends the grotesque with the beautiful, creating a film that is both dazzling and unsettling. While the narrative focuses on Silvio Berlusconi, the controversial Italian politician and media magnate, the film’s deeper concerns lie in the nature of influence, the seduction of wealth, and the moral compromises individuals make to obtain or maintain power. It is less a biopic than a meditation on ego, vanity, and the human cost of excess.

At the center of the story is a young man named Sergio Morra, an ambitious entrepreneur who seeks proximity to Berlusconi’s inner circle. Morra operates an escort-service empire, leveraging the allure of beauty and sexuality as currency to access the corridors of political power. Through him, the audience glimpses a world of spectacle, manipulation, and transactional relationships where ambition thrives on superficial charm, indulgence, and moral compromise. Morra’s rise and tactics exemplify the opportunism and opportunistic morality that pervade the society Sorrentino portrays, revealing how personal gain is often pursued at the expense of ethics and humanity.

Simultaneously, the film presents Berlusconi not merely as a political figure but as a man consumed by his own insecurities and personal crises. In 2006, his marriage is strained, providing a quiet yet poignant counterpoint to the ostentatious excess surrounding him. Sorrentino juxtaposes Berlusconi’s public persona of control, charisma, and confidence with his private moments of vulnerability, doubt, and emotional emptiness. These glimpses of insecurity make the character more complex than a mere symbol of greed or power. By doing so, Loro examines the paradox of authority: the more powerful someone appears, the more isolated and fragile they may be beneath the surface.

One of the most distinctive features of Loro is its narrative structure. Rather than adhering to a conventional, linear plot, Sorrentino opts for a fragmented, episodic approach that emphasizes atmosphere, mood, and visual symbolism. The film oscillates between the extravagant parties, lavish villas, and political maneuvering of Rome, and the intimate, almost lonely interior spaces where Berlusconi and other characters reveal glimpses of humanity. This approach mirrors the dualities in the film: spectacle versus reality, public persona versus private vulnerability, indulgence versus emptiness. By weaving these elements together, Sorrentino allows viewers to engage with the moral and emotional texture of the world he portrays, rather than simply following events in chronological order.

Visually, Loro is a feast for the senses. Cinematographer Luca Bigazzi captures both the decadence and the isolation that define the film’s characters. Lavish scenes of opulent villas, private jets, and high-profile parties are contrasted with moments of stillness, where characters are framed in muted interiors, shadows, or reflective surfaces. These visual juxtapositions reinforce the themes of isolation and detachment beneath the glamour and excess. Symbolism permeates the imagery: mirrors, pools, and reflective surfaces emphasize duality and self-perception, while opulent furnishings and garish colors underscore superficiality and indulgence. Every shot seems meticulously composed to communicate both the allure and the emptiness of the world Sorrentino explores.

The performances in Loro are essential to its impact. Toni Servillo, in the role of Berlusconi, delivers a layered portrayal that balances charisma, humor, and pathos. Servillo captures the larger-than-life persona that Berlusconi projected to the public, while also conveying moments of vulnerability that reveal the fragility and moral ambiguity beneath the surface. Meanwhile, Riccardo Scamarcio as Sergio Morra embodies relentless ambition and moral flexibility, reflecting a younger generation willing to exploit every advantage to climb the social and political ladder. Their interactions illuminate the transactional nature of relationships in a society where influence is currency, and loyalty is often conditional.

At its core, Loro is a meditation on power and its consequences. Sorrentino interrogates the ways in which wealth, beauty, and political influence intersect to create a world in which morality is often negotiable, and personal relationships are commodified. The film does not shy away from depicting the ethical compromises and corruption that sustain such power, nor the human costs of indulgence, loneliness, and detachment. Even characters who appear to be in control are subtly shown as vulnerable to their own desires and the expectations of others. Through these portrayals, Loro asks difficult questions: What does it mean to wield power responsibly? How does ego distort human connection? And what is the ultimate price of excess?

The pacing of Loro contributes significantly to its thematic weight. Sorrentino allows moments to breathe, letting characters linger in spaces that feel both opulent and oppressive. Long, unhurried sequences—whether depicting parties, political meetings, or private reflections—immerse the audience in the rhythm of this world. The deliberate pacing also emphasizes the repetitive, cyclical nature of ambition, desire, and corruption. Viewers are encouraged to contemplate not only the actions of the characters but also the emotional and moral implications of those actions.

Musically, the film complements its visuals with a score that alternates between grandiose and understated, reinforcing the tension between spectacle and interiority. The music underscores both the excess of the public world and the loneliness of private reflection, enhancing the emotional resonance of key scenes. Combined with cinematography and performance, the score helps to create a fully immersive experience that is as intellectually stimulating as it is visually and emotionally engaging.

Furthermore, Loro explores the intersection of gender, power, and sexuality in modern Italy. Women in the film, particularly those associated with Morra’s escort service, are depicted as both empowered and exploited. They navigate a system where charm, beauty, and sexuality grant access to influence, yet they are also subject to commodification and manipulation. Sorrentino’s lens does not reduce these characters to mere objects; instead, he presents them as complex figures navigating morally ambiguous landscapes, highlighting the transactional and performative aspects of power and desire.

The political dimension of Loro is inextricably linked to its exploration of excess and moral decay. Berlusconi’s persona, wealth, and influence dominate the public sphere, creating an environment where ethical compromises are normalized, and appearances often outweigh substance. Sorrentino critiques this system subtly but relentlessly, revealing how the pursuit of power can overshadow humanity and moral responsibility. The film’s approach is neither didactic nor simplistic; instead, it invites viewers to confront the uncomfortable realities of political life and the personal compromises required to thrive within it.

In conclusion, Paolo Sorrentino’s Loro (2018) is a richly layered, provocative examination of power, desire, and moral compromise in modern Italy. Through its fragmented narrative, meticulous visual composition, and compelling performances, the film offers an unflinching look at the intersections of wealth, influence, and human vulnerability. Berlusconi is presented not merely as a political figure but as a man whose public triumphs mask private insecurities and moral compromises, while Sergio Morra embodies the opportunism and ambition that perpetuate such a system.

Loro is a meditation on the seductive and destructive nature of power, the fragility of human connection in a world obsessed with image, and the ethical compromises that accompany ambition. It challenges viewers to consider the cost of excess, the illusions of authority, and the human vulnerabilities that lurk beneath even the most commanding public personas. For audiences willing to engage with complex characters, rich symbolism, and a cinematic style that prioritizes mood and thematic depth over conventional plot, Loro offers a compelling, immersive, and thought-provoking experience that lingers long after the credits roll.