Un Bel Film

Working as box office staff for the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival unfortunately prevented me from going to see most of the movies being screened.

However, I was lucky enough to nab a ticket for the gala screening of the festival's closing film, 'Io Sono l’Amore' ('I Am Love'), so I wandered along to The Savoy last night to check it out.

Eleven years in the making, the movie stars Tilda Swinton as the Russian wife of a wealthy Italian businessman whose life takes a series of unexpected turns after her son befriends a lowly chef.

Swinton and the film's director Luca Guadagnino were present at the screening and said that they had set out to make a film that would reclaim words used to describe modern movies in a disparaging way, like "sensational", "operatic" and "melodramatic". They sure succeeded.

Elegantly shot, perfectly paced and laden with fine performances, I honestly can't remember the last time I was so absorbed by a movie. As the closing credits began to roll, I was left reeling from the film's dramatic final scenes and sat in stunned silence for a few moments before remembering to clap.

The film gets a proper release here next month and I strongly suggest you check it out.



[Image: Peter Fingleton]