Guadagnino's I am Love: Characterization Study



I am Love follows the story of Emma Recchi (Tilda Swinton), a woman married to a wealthy Milanese businessman Tancredi (Pippo Delbono). The drama comes into her life when she meets her sons close friend Antonio. Emma soon develops an intense relationship with Antonio, one that will change her life irreversibly. To really understand the films characters, it is important to look at their relationship with Emma. The filmmakers follow her actions throughout while the other family members and Antonio only seem to appear when they can be used to develop the films plot further. The films main focus is Emma’s personal rejuvenation and enlightenment found through the act of adultery. She commits the act after much trepidation; once she has she looks for ways to reveal her sins to her family. Through her actions we see a longing to break away from the loveless marriage she once naively chose. The relationships between Emma and the other members of her immediate family also give fuel to the story, particularly helping to explain why Emma’s character choses to act on her baser instincts in regard to Antonio.  Her husband, a quietly cold man; epitomises the opposite side of the Ricci household. He out of all of the characters I will mention is kept out of focus the most. This works well as it shows the rift that has developed between Emma and Tancredi over time; well before the beginning of the film. Tancredi’s lack of passion can be seen at its clearest near the end of the film, In reaction to the news that Emma is in love with another, he eventually replies; ‘You don’t exist’.

Emma and Antonio’s love is a bourgeoning force. Antonio is depicted as nervous after the first rendezvous with Emma. He longs to see her in again, even letting his imagination envision she is there when she is not. Even after meeting her again he cannot bring himself to touch her in any sort of intimate way, this may be because he is insecure and cannot decide if such an action would be appropriate, or he might just react this way through fear as they have met in a public place. Either way Emma shows her age and decides something for both of them by laying her hand over his. This reassuring gesture helps to continue the affair unhindered. Antonio’s character is not very revealing apart from that; he is a good listener however, through conversations with Emma we manage to hear her backstory, her leaving Russia at a young age with Tancredi explains a lot about her current isolated predicament. No one could judge her harshly after hearing where she has come from.

The children can be seen as secondary characters that mimic the overall events shown; on a smaller scale they mirror elements of both parents, but it is easier to see the similarities between the mother and daughter and the father and son. This similarity can be shown by the lifestyles they choose. The son Edo (Flavio Parenti), is shown in the film to be closely following his father’s footsteps, however it is unclear how happy he is in his current situation. He himself shares a unique friendship with Antonio. Mirroring his mother’s love for him in a way, however the closest example of taking after Tancredi, is in his reaction to his mother’s confession; ‘You’re nothing to me!’ Both father and son react badly to the news and dismiss Emma in a very similar way. The daughter Eva (Diane Fleri), mirrors the actions of her mother; she tells her mother early in the film that she is in love with a woman. Her mother supports her and it can be assumed that Emma uses her daughter’s example to help her make her own decisions about life and love. Through the moments we see Eva, we see gradual changes; she cuts her hair short and dismisses an ex-boyfriend in front of her mother. Edo and Eva meet in London later in the film to catch up; Edo is there on business, Eva’s reason is not revealed. Eva questions Edo’s happiness, but we don’t get told what exactly Edo is unhappy about. All we can assume is that he wants to be with Antonio in some capacity be it as brothers or lovers it is never brought to the audiences focus. Edo’s eventual death sets Emma up to leave the Recchi household for good. Her daughter of course knows immediately to support her mother who did the same for her. However, love is bitter sweet and leaving the Recchi household means leaving the people that inhabit it, Emma leaves a moment before it is revealed that Edo managed to impregnate his partner before dying. Eva, having understood the gesture of pregnancy looks to where her mother was standing. Emma caught up in her own world has already left.

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