I Am Love (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
'I Am Love', written & directed by Luca Guadagnino, tells a tragic love (primal & familial) story set in Milan, Italy. The film can be dissected in 2 parts. The 1st section takes up the 1st hour; where we meet the formidable, filthy-rich Recchi family. Owners of a lucrative Italian textile mill, each family member is going through a change of some sort. Famiglia patriarch, Edoardo (Gabriele Ferzetti), sensing his pending death, has decided to pass control of the company to both his son, Tancredi (Pippo Delbono), & surprisingly, his cherished, but somewhat flighty grandson, Edo (Flavio Parenti). Tancredi is shocked that his papa split the succession with his own son. Issues arise from this. But the strong family unit accepts, nevertheless. Further complications arise, as Edo brings home his intended, but out-of-left-field fiance to meet mom & pop. And the Recchi daughter, Elisabetta (Alba Rohrwacher), realizes that she is a lesbian (few would take this news well).
All the while, Tancredi's quiet, but dutiful wife, Emma (Oscar-winner, Tilda Swinton), prefers to stay in the background. See, she's "Mrs. Recchi", and yet, never has she been considered a respected, family insider; perhaps due to her direct Russian ancestry. The 2nd part of the film (2nd hour) puts full focus on Emma (disregarding further development of the other characters). Her plotline kicks into gear once her adoring son Edo decides to open a restaurant with good 'friend' & talented chef, Antonio (Edoardo Gabbriellini). She becomes wildly attracted to him. And after a few fleeting moments of flirting, she eventually enters into a liberating, impassioned affair with him that has melodramatic, life-changing consequences, & highly tragic ramifications for the entire Recchi clan.
Oh, boy. This is such difficult film to give a direct critique of. That's because while the acting is excellent, & the direction has flair, & the cinematography is exceptional, & the sets, costumes, & moody musical score are some of the best I've seen all year ... I just didn't love the story arc; and certainly how it all ends (good grief!). So, it's a very tepid recommendation, right here. I acknowledge the film's strong suits - it's just a shame they weren't given a more deserving story & plausible denouement. Let me speak of what's good, because there's so much of that, really. I 'get' the theme of: fusing Milan's past (height of the Recchi family empire) with its present (Emma wanting to break away from the stifling, male-centric dominance). Power, family, wealth, & tradition are too suffocating for her. She's done with being the submissive wife, & wants to be a 'new' woman; yet doesn't know how to do it without damaging everyone.
Production-wise, the film is as elegant & lavish as they come; reminding me of last yrs. A Single Man. I loved Luca Guadagnino's arm-length direction; where you feel like you're a fly following each character from room to room, street corner to street corner, etc. It's a great, involving technique. And the camera is always doing something interesting. But the problem with all that, however, is that we're never fully emotionally invested in the characters - even Emma. So a stylistic directorial approach to get us closer to the character(s) fails, anyway. Tilda Swinton - on a purely acting level - is magnificent (learning Russian-accented Italian for the role, as well). You just can't take your eyes off of her. And her subtle, aching, chameleon-like portrayal should reap rewards by the end of the year. But it's very difficult to connect with her Emma; especially in the end (my GOD). I just cannot accept her final actions. They feel somewhat false.
Overall, I appreciate the impeccable technique, skill & art that is on display throughout 'I Am Love'. It's a film-lovers film; slow, methodical & romantically old-school in every way. But it lost me about 3/4's of the way through (when any sense of narrative urgency disappears). Emma's transition from demure housewife to woman-of-free-abandon is deadened by implausible circumstances. And the movie failed to show me why I should care so much about her, the family, & the blunt tragedies that ensue in the film's spiraling-out-of-control 20 min. conclusion. It's a film in which most average movie-goers will probably leave the theater baffled & aggravated. And even staunch art house cinemaphiles will struggle to weigh the pros & cons.
All the while, Tancredi's quiet, but dutiful wife, Emma (Oscar-winner, Tilda Swinton), prefers to stay in the background. See, she's "Mrs. Recchi", and yet, never has she been considered a respected, family insider; perhaps due to her direct Russian ancestry. The 2nd part of the film (2nd hour) puts full focus on Emma (disregarding further development of the other characters). Her plotline kicks into gear once her adoring son Edo decides to open a restaurant with good 'friend' & talented chef, Antonio (Edoardo Gabbriellini). She becomes wildly attracted to him. And after a few fleeting moments of flirting, she eventually enters into a liberating, impassioned affair with him that has melodramatic, life-changing consequences, & highly tragic ramifications for the entire Recchi clan.
Oh, boy. This is such difficult film to give a direct critique of. That's because while the acting is excellent, & the direction has flair, & the cinematography is exceptional, & the sets, costumes, & moody musical score are some of the best I've seen all year ... I just didn't love the story arc; and certainly how it all ends (good grief!). So, it's a very tepid recommendation, right here. I acknowledge the film's strong suits - it's just a shame they weren't given a more deserving story & plausible denouement. Let me speak of what's good, because there's so much of that, really. I 'get' the theme of: fusing Milan's past (height of the Recchi family empire) with its present (Emma wanting to break away from the stifling, male-centric dominance). Power, family, wealth, & tradition are too suffocating for her. She's done with being the submissive wife, & wants to be a 'new' woman; yet doesn't know how to do it without damaging everyone.
Production-wise, the film is as elegant & lavish as they come; reminding me of last yrs. A Single Man. I loved Luca Guadagnino's arm-length direction; where you feel like you're a fly following each character from room to room, street corner to street corner, etc. It's a great, involving technique. And the camera is always doing something interesting. But the problem with all that, however, is that we're never fully emotionally invested in the characters - even Emma. So a stylistic directorial approach to get us closer to the character(s) fails, anyway. Tilda Swinton - on a purely acting level - is magnificent (learning Russian-accented Italian for the role, as well). You just can't take your eyes off of her. And her subtle, aching, chameleon-like portrayal should reap rewards by the end of the year. But it's very difficult to connect with her Emma; especially in the end (my GOD). I just cannot accept her final actions. They feel somewhat false.
Overall, I appreciate the impeccable technique, skill & art that is on display throughout 'I Am Love'. It's a film-lovers film; slow, methodical & romantically old-school in every way. But it lost me about 3/4's of the way through (when any sense of narrative urgency disappears). Emma's transition from demure housewife to woman-of-free-abandon is deadened by implausible circumstances. And the movie failed to show me why I should care so much about her, the family, & the blunt tragedies that ensue in the film's spiraling-out-of-control 20 min. conclusion. It's a film in which most average movie-goers will probably leave the theater baffled & aggravated. And even staunch art house cinemaphiles will struggle to weigh the pros & cons.