Film Review: I Am Love (2010)

My experience of Italian cinema is probably not what it should be. Whilst French or Korean films have a real aura of down-to-earth grittiness about them, Italian cinema has always struck me as seeming entirely pretentious, a great deal of unjustified artistic shots flung about to cover up a distinct lack of content concerning the plot. With all that said, if I Am Love is as pretentious as any Italian movie I've come to loathe it can be forgiven. it has so much to offer that some slight overindulgences can easily be forgiven.

To describe the plot of I Am Love is akin to describing the plot of an individuals life, it really doesn't work. The driving narrative focuses on an affair but it takes a good hour of the movie to even begin to suggest what will occur. Instead, we are initally introduced to the wealthy Recchi family, who live off the success of Edoardo Sr. (Gabriele Ferzetti) and his textile factory. The opening shots are of preparations being made for a lavish dinner party in celebration of Edoardo's birthday and the no-expense-spared attitude is in a way, entirely underwhelming; although the sets and food has an elegance to it, the richness of it all is never fully exploited allowing director Luca Guadagnino to place the emphasis upon the relationships between all the family members. This proves to be a wise decision as the characters are what will keep you watching, as opposed to the insatiably colourful wardrobes or even the striking architecture that the film exploits.
Tilda Swinton plays the lead, Emma Recchi, the Russian born wife of Edoardo's son. Her ability to merely exist in a family and a culture that is not hers is fascinating and her alienation, although perhaps dulled after two decades of tolerance is perfectly captured, as is her reintegration with happiness as the film progresses. Emma's relationship with her son, Edoardo Jr is warm enough to be one of the few truly believable paternal bonds to be staged on film and Swinton's ability to speak fluent Italian whilst gradually descending furthur into a Russian accent is subtle but remarkable.

If anything, it seems most fitting to liken I Am Love to The Godfather thematically, but without the gangsters. Despite the obvious Italian parallels there are also ideas here that are intrinsically similar such as a family business that alters the very nature of those involved and the final pressing notion that innocence cannot survive in an adult world, a notion that I Am Love pushes both figuratively and literally towards the end of its running time.Although a beautifully shot movie, I Am Love is probably most notable for the way it plays with conventions of a prosperous lifestyle. The more glamorous scenes are usually played against silence, with little focus on the opulence inherently present to make the whole affair feel a hairs inch from mundane. The more manic scenes, however, tend to introduce a glorious musical score and elegant camera motions that make the madness feel so much more accomplished than any piece of furniture or distinct cuisine dish might have.

Although I Am Love does occasionally over-flourish with its artistry the deep familial drama is enough to keep the picture level throughout its running time and the insistence to play against the rules of established upscale drama make it a phenomenal and beautiful introspective film

5/5