I Am Love-2009

Director Luca Guadagnino

Starring Tilda Swinton

Scott’s Review #545

Reviewed December 11, 2016

Grade: A

Tilda Swinton shines in I Am Love,  an amazing Italian film from 2009 that I wish received wider recognition, but alas, some of the best films do not receive their due.

Swinton stars as a matriarch of a wealthy Italian family who owns a successful business.

To make this film feel authentic, it was shot in and around Milan and features a highly stylish, exquisite look. It is a grand film with high-class set pieces and a great look.

I do not hesitate to categorize it as an artistic, female version of The Godfather (1972) because it is that good.

It focuses on the family as a whole but more so on Swinton’s character, who is bored and unhappy with her life and yearns for passion and feeling.

One day she meets a friend of her sons, and drama ensues.

The boy is only half her age, but they share a passion that awakens her from her doldrums. The conflict in the film is how the affair looks to society and affects the family business- not to mention being detrimental to her marriage.

I Am Love (2009) is a great film that should be discovered by those looking for a gorgeous film with great drama.

Oscar Nominations: Best Costume Design