Io sono l'amore (I Am Love) (2009)

A friend described I Am Love to me thusly: "I liked it a lot, but I read about it first in the New York Times, and it's a very New York Timesy kind of movie." I couldn't agree more. Learning Italian and some Russian for the part, the ever-glamorous Tilda Swinton plays Emma Recchi, an impeccably put-together Russian married to a wealthy Italian businessman and mother to his three children.

Their relationship has been somewhat tepid and rehearsed for years, and she devotes much of her time to running the household, hosting lavish parties, and mentoring her grown children: Edoardo, Jr (Flavio Parenti), who recently was made co-manager of the family business and hopes to propose to his new girlfriend, Betta (Alba Rohrwacher), whose departure to art school in London has furthered her exploration of lesbian relationships, and Tancredi (Pippo Delbon), who doesn't really do much and as a character really seems like an afterthought. Edoardo, Jr introduces his mother to young chef Antonio (Edoardo Gabbriellini), sparking within both a sudden lustful desire upon which Emma can't help but act.


Incorporating a range of decadent, colorful settings and some mouthwatering close-ups of fine foods, I Am Love is a lush film. It builds gradually, layering on strains of vibrant instrumental music and quick cuts detailing the everyday events of a wealthy Italian home. Eventually the lavish visuals culminate in an intense and intimate sex scene and a melodramatic and rainy (of course) funeral. Story-wise it is sort of a modern-day version of The Awakening, though the "modern" element is often forgotten in favor of antiquated gender roles and manners.

Swinton is, as usual, quite magnificent in the role of Emma, a woman whose history has all but been stamped out of her so that she can become the perfect trophy wife and mother, and whose passion has been relegated to gourmet meals and lanky dresses. Her re-assessment of herself and her position is slow and at times meandering, allowing for certain nuances and closely observed small moments. There are numerous secondary characters, most of whom seem extraneous and serve only to weigh her down or keep her from reaching fulfillment, but I loved the few scenes with Betta, her daughter. Her own blossoming of sexuality mirrors her mother's, and I would have been really interested if her tale had been expanded upon and told in a sort of parallel structure.

I Am Love is an undeniably beautiful film, both in visuals and sentiment. The captivating performance from Swinton and carefully-crafted cinematography will entice any discerning filmgoer, but the slow-moving story and strange blend of quiet, simple dialogue with a few over the top theatrical moments keep it from fully affecting me on a more emotional level. It's always wonderful to see such forthright depiction of female sexuality, but the old-fashioned interactions and choices in a contemporary setting seem misplaced. While a wealthy and repressed wife finding happiness with a younger, lower-class man is a major stride in earlier times, it seems somewhat lacking today, amidst the range of lifestyles women can have that don't involve men taking care of them. On the other hand, the film can serve to remind us that such backwards notions about women still exist, and if you want to see that story played out expertly, certainly see I Am Love.

4/5