can she understand what kind of family she has entered into after marrying into a wealthy family? She only knew that she was married to a wealthy Italian family who had her own textile factory in Milan, but she had ever understood that marrying a merchant woman from Russia to Italy, even if she enjoys all the glory, wealth and love, she will never be able to truly integrate into this Wealthy and aristocratic.
So when we saw Emma (played by Tilda Swinton) preparing a birthday banquet for the elders in Recchi’s mansion on the screen, she looked more like a senior housekeeper or a banquet organizer, rather than a graceful girl. Owner. At the end of the long banquet table is Edoardo, the head of the family. Of course, her son and husband Tancredi (played by Pippo Ferzetti) were indispensable at the banquet. The old man announced an unexpected decision at the banquet: he decided to abdicate and let the virtuous, hand over the important tasks to his son Tancredi-not only his son, but also his grandson, Edo, which is Emma's son, will also be with him. Inherit the family business.
Good news comes, is Emma really happy? ──Her husband and son will inherit the family's great cause together, but she seems to have only an indifferent sense of sophistication. Tilda Swinton is a daring actor - she has a restrained approach to acting, never making her character's emotions face-to-face in her performance. Therefore, "I Am Love" can be said to have shaped this role for her personally. There are not many lines, but her every gesture is silent. For example: In the movie, we learned that she has a small independent space of her own; so when everything is ready for the family dinner, she just goes upstairs quietly and hides in her bedroom.
The first few scenes of Luca Guadagnino's film have created a lifelike image of a rich family-the Recchi family, just like the Corleone family in "The Godfather" and the Prince Salina family in Visconti's "Leopard". Watching "I Am Love", it is almost impossible not to mention "Leopard": not only because the two movies tell stories about Italian nobles, but because both movies have plots of family heritage, and The lusts and lusts that collapse the walls that hide the nobles. And Guadagnino obviously also intends to make the relationship between the two films more obvious: let's look at the name Tancredi-in "Leopard", the nephew of Prince Salina played by Alain Delon is the name.
In "I Am Love", the lifestyle of the Recchi family has always remained the same. Living in a luxury house; working in a fashion-related industry; no challenges and no risks; self-cultivation; under the conservative tradition, there are various desires hidden; everything he does shows off the family's superiority. Emma can speak fluent Italian, and the inability to get rid of the Russian accent seems to remind her that she never really belonged here.
Few actresses can control the rush and turbulence of erotic desires as well as Swinton ─ ─ her performance is so natural and true. When she learned that her daughter Elisabetta was gay, as a mother she showed a natural astonishment, but as a woman, she naturally revealed the surprise and curiosity in her nature. Of course she had heard of homosexuality before, and she understood that if a heart made such a choice, there would be a reason for it.
The meal for the birthday feast at the beginning of the movie was taken care of by her son Edo’s friend Antonio. As early as when she was discussing meal matters with the young chef, a trace of special affection was already wafting in her heart. Later, when she happened to meet Antonio when she visited her daughter in San Remo, she couldn't help but decided to follow him secretly. There was no dialogue at all in this scene, and the camera just quietly followed Emma along the alleys. The longer you follow, there will always be a corner.
Bed scenes are also essential. Many actresses are often asked to act in sex scenes, but the sex scenes in which Swinton has played with each role are slightly different. She understands that for different roles, lust is as special and unique as language or taste. Emma's rush of eroticism is like a dam sluicing a sluice, and it bursts out not only with passion, but also with joy. But like all extramarital affairs, her affair also hurt her husband, son, and the whole family. However, most such prestigious families can always handle such a small affair. But in the relationship, emotional continuity is far more important than commitment and delivery. The movie describes how this seemingly inexplicable eroticism unexpectedly changed Emma's life.
Throughout the film, director Guadagnino also gave due attention to other family members in this rich family. For example, Allegra (played by Marisa Berenson), Emma’s husband’s janitor; and the old maid Ida (played by Maria Paiato), who has served in the Recchi family for many years and knows everything that happens in this family better than anyone else. I also understand Emma's weak demands in this rich family better; and Emma's son Edo, a young heir who has not yet experienced the intrigue of the mall and still has no secrets about his emotions. Finally, it is this Recchi family that makes people feel like the church, demanding more dedication than true "belief".
All in all, "I Am Love" is an amazing movie, it is so deep, complicated, but also full of human nature. It is not about rich and poor, but about the old and the new. It just tells an ancient battle of hearts about conservative traditions and true emotions. For the role of Emma, Tilda Swinton learned how to speak Italian with a Russian accent, and her performance in this film is just a small step in her acting career. But she did revitalize the image of Emma, a woman who has silently catered to all the needs of the family for so many years, but bravely accepted the true demands of her heart in just a few days. Regardless of whether the person who is finally waiting is Antonio or not, her heart must have been waiting for a long time.
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I am Love
BY ROGER EBERT / June 23, 2010
cast & credits
Emma ---- Tilda Swinton
Edoardo Jr.
---- Flavio Parenti Antonio ---- Edoardo Gabbriellini
Allegra ----Marisa Berenson
Elisabetta ---- Alba Rohrwacher
Tancredi ---- Pippo Delbono
Ida ---- Maria Paiato
Magnolia Pictures presents a film directed by Luca Guadagnino.
Written by Guadagnino, Barbara Alberti, Ivan Cotroneo and Walter Fasano.
Based on a story by Guadagnino.
In Italian, Russian and English, with English subtitles.
Running time: 120 minutes.
Rated R (for sexuality and nudity).
Did she understand when she married her husband what sort of family she was joining? She knew they were rich Italian aristocrats, operators of textile mills in Milan. But did she understand that as a wife from Russia, she would serve and provide and even be loved, but would never truly be a member?
When we see Emma (Tilda Swinton) she is preparing the Recchi house for the birthday party of the patriarch. She seems to relate more as a caterer than as a hostess. At the head of the table is the grand old Edoardo (Gabriele Ferzetti). Among those gathered are his son and her husband, Tancredi (Pippo Delbono). The old man makes an unexpected announcement: He is retiring, and putting Tancredi in charge. But not Tancredi alone. His grandson, their son, Edo (Flavio Parenti) also will share the responsibility.
Is Emma filled with joy? Her husband and son will inherit the dynasty? She is so calm and expert, it's hard to say. Tilda Swinton is a daring actress who doesn't project emotions so much as embody them. “I Am Love” provides an ideal role for her, in that her actions speak instead of words. We learn she has her own private space, that after launching a family event, she likes to leave it running smoothly and retire to her room upstairs.
The opening act of Luca Guadagnino's film establishes the stature of the Recchi family as surely as the Corleones are established in “The Godfather,” or the Salinas in Visconti's “The Leopard.” It may be impossible to write about this film without evoking “The Leopard," not simply because they both involve Italian aristocrats, but because they involve matters of succession, and the way that love and lust can breach the walls aristocrats live behind. Guadagnino makes the connection inescapable by the use of the name Tancredi; in “ The Leopard," Alain Delon pays the Salina nephew of that name.
The Recchi family has been living in a particular way for a long time. Cushioned by great wealth, working in an industry associated with style, never challenged, well-educated, its hungers cloaked in tradition, it occupies its place of privilege effortlessly. Emma speaks Italian fluently, but with a Russian accent, a reminder that she is not quite one of them.
Few actresses can embody urgent sexual desire so well as Swinton. She is realistic about such feelings. When she learns her daughter Elisabetta (Alba Rohrwacher) is a lesbian, she reacts not as a mother, possibly with shock, but as a woman, in surprise and curiosity. She has heard of such things. The heart has its reasons.
The feast opening the film is prepared by Antonio (Edoardo Gabbriellini), a friend of her son Edo's. She consults with this young chef, and a feeling passes into her. Later, on a visit to her daughter in San Remo, she happens to see Antonio, and with decision follows him through the streets. This is all done without dialogue. The camera is pursuer and pursued. The longer she follows him, the more certain they must meet.
Of course they make love. Actresses are often called upon to enact sex in the movies. Swinton does it differently with each character, understanding that sexuality is as distinctive as speech or taste. Emma is urgent as if a dam has burst, releasing not passion but happiness. Of course this affair threatens her relationship with her husband, her son and her family. But most long-established families have overcome the inconveniences of adultery. Continuity is more important than commitment. The film now observes the ways, not predictable, in which this new sexual act affects Emma's role.
All this time, Guadagnino has been paying due attention to other important members of the family. There is Allegra (Marisa Berenson), gatekeeper of her husband. There is the long-serving housekeeper Ida (Maria Paiato), who sees and understands everything and in many ways is Emma's refuge in the household. There is the personality of Emma's son, Edo, as yet untouched by the ordeals of business life, more open in his personal feelings. And there is the overarching sense in which the Recchi family embodies a tradition which, like a church, requires devotion if not belief.
“I Am Love” is an amazing film. It is deep, rich, human. It is not about rich and poor, but about old and new. It is about the ancient war between tradition and feeling. For this role, Tilda Swinton learned to speak Italian with a Russian accent, as Tilda Swinton would, but her performance is nothing as trivial as a feat of learning. She evokes Emma as a woman who for years has accepted the needs of the Recchis and discovers in a few days to accept her own needs. She must have been waiting a long time for Antonio, whoever he would be.
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Because I like the movie I am Love very much, and recently I happened to be free, so I used Roger Ebert's film review to practice my hands, and I did a poor translation. Welcome to correct me:)
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