I Am Love, 2009 (Grade B)

Director Luca Guadagnino
Awards: none known
Cast: Tilda Swinton; Flavio Parenti; Edoardo Gabbriellini; Aba Rohrwacher; Pippo Delbono; Diane Fleri; Maria Paiato; Marisa Berenson; Waris Ahluwalia; Gabriele Ferzetti.

sez says: this ultra rich family may look like they have everything anyone could ever want -- but there is no such thing as a trouble free home. In this case, we learn that mom/Emma (played by Swinton) was brought home from Russia when her husband had gone there looking for beautiful art to purchase --he found a beautiful woman  and brought her home too.  He gave her a new name when they arrived in Italy (He named me Emma: I've forgotten my Russian name she says).  So we learn she is just one of the many possessions of the rich family.  Not that her husband does not care about her -- but she was 'purchased' every bit as much as her son's new acquaintance (the chief) is purchased to cook for the family parties. (ie: he sells his skilled labor--she sold her beauty to the family). One result of having been purchased was an abandonment of a part of herself.


Ah, but then the chief's cooking awakens her suppressed erotic desires and she abandons propriety and follows her forgotten Russian-self into the arms / and into the kitchen of the chief.  This get complicated when her son (the chief's friend) figures out whats up. Meanwhile mix in a daughter who has discovered she is a Lesbian--and how Emma handles that.   Layer all of that with a musical score that vigorously  guides your emotions and you've got an idea of what this is all about. Indeed, I am not sure how well the movie would have worked with out the powerful musical score... It was a character all on its own.  (Grade B)