This must be the place. (This Must Be the Place(Italian: ) is a 2011 Italian-French-Irish adventure comedy film directed by Paolo Sorrentino from a screenplay by Paolo Sorrentino and Umberto Contarello. The film premiered in Italy on 14 October 2011.
„This must be the place.“" is an extraordinary film that walks the line between existential drama, travelogue and silent cinema about personal transformation. It is a co-production between Italy, France and Ireland, directed by Paolo Sorrentino - the creator of "„The Great Beauty„", who is working with an English-speaking cast for the first time here.
The main character, Cheyenne, is a former rock star living in self-imposed isolation in Dublin. He seems lost in his past, wearing makeup from his 80s concerts, even though he hasn't played in years. Cheyenne is pale, silent, and melancholic - almost a ghost, existing without direction.
The plot is set in motion when Cheyenne learns of the death of his father - whom he has not spoken to in decades. This event triggers an unexpected spiritual awakening: he learns that his father was searching for a former Nazi war criminal hiding in the United States. Determined to complete the search, Cheyenne sets off on a journey across America, chasing the shadows of history and his own place in the world.
Sorrentino creates a film that is both intimate and visually lavish. The camera moves with elegance, often panning over details with an artistry reminiscent of Terrence Malick. Despite the weight of its themes—the Holocaust, trauma, alienation—the film doesn’t sink into darkness. Instead, it radiates a strange, dreamlike light.
Music plays a key role. The soundtrack, by David Byrne (who even appears in the film), is an organic part of the character's journey. The song "„This Must Be the Place“" (on Talking Heads) is not just a title – it is the essence of the idea of belonging, of a spiritual home.
Sean Penn is the heart of this film. As Cheyenne, he offers one of his most atypical portrayals – quiet, feminine, vulnerable. With the gait of an old man and the gaze of a child, Penn transforms his character into an icon of lost sensibility. His performance is not just good acting – it is a transformation.
„"„This must be the place.“" is a film about how one can find new meaning, even when one has stopped looking for it. About how the past – whether personal or historical – cannot be ignored. About how silence can be louder than music. And most of all – about redemption, which comes not through revenge, but through understanding.
„"„This must be the place.“" is a film for those who are not afraid to get lost in order to find themselves. It is not for everyone – the pace is slow, the story is unconventional, the hero is an enigma. But for viewers willing to immerse themselves in its melancholic poetry, it is an experience that remains.
