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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