I Am Love (Io sono l'amore)

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Starring: Tilda Swinton, Flavio Parenti, Edoardo Gabriellini
Directed by: Luca Guadagnino
Cert: 15
Year: 2009



In Short: A beautifully decorated film with a strong cast. Though clichéd in places and somewhat reminiscent of Damage (Louis Malle) a great achievement for such a low budget.

In Full: I Am Love centres around a rich family in Milan, Italy. The film actually is in Italian (and Russian in parts) but there are subtitles and a rather impressive turn from Swinton, speaking the languages as though it was the most natural thing in the world for her. The film was originally released in Italy sometime last year but only recently in England.

Milan is one of the world's most fashionable cities, a fact which I think is very apparent in the movie. This, along with old-style opening credits and a lavish variety of sets aid in giving the film a rather timeless, other-worldly feel. Even though a lot of modern technology is used, it is easy to forget in the midst of lush green landscapes and beautiful cities.

The script is very natural, which makes it easy for you to forget you are watching a film and to get lost within it, the beautiful sets and locations help this along greatly. The story revolves around Emma Recchi (Swinton) a striking Russian woman who married into a rich Italian family and is now living in Milan, she begins an affair with her son's (Parenti) friend Antonio (Gabriellini). They are initially drawn to each other through their love of food, which is conveyed in a rather unusual sequence of Swinton eating prawns, and then through their desire to be free from society.

There is a rather impressive turn from Alba Rohrwacher as Emma's lesbian daughter Betta. It is rare that a character like hers is portrayed with such joy, simply delighting in being exactly who she is, a trait which her mother shares for a brief point.
The main issue with the movie is the unusual camera work. At times it is so fast and blurry you are jarred right out of the film and it is not unlike being on a virtual roller coaster when the director employed a camera strapped to the front of a car following the actual characters in another car along a very bendy road. Very confusing.
As well as this, partway through the film, Emma gets a haircut. While I am fine with a character changing looks, it was difficult for me to see her as Emma Recchi once she lost her make up, fashionable clothes and hair she began to look very much like Swinton had walked on the set and not bothered getting changed beforehand.
The ending of the film is a little surreal, and leaves the audience in a very peculiar state, especially after the short credits when there is a slot of film where absolutely nothing happens and we are left watching Swinton and Gabriellini perched on a rock unsure whether we are supposed to go yet.
While there is a lot more nudity than is strictly necessary (and at some very odd angles, I might add), this film is well worth a visit if you consider yourself an 'indie' fan. If you are looking for something aesthetically pleasing, you have found it in I Am Love.
See this if you liked: Damage (Louis Malle, 1992), Youth Without Youth (Francis Ford Coppola, 2007), Titanic (James Cameron, 1997)