If any film could be considered a “fashion film”, the sumptuous, provocative and emotionally charged film, ‘I Am Love’, befits perfectly.

‘I Am Love’ follows the wealthy Italian Recchi family during their period of turmoil in the dawning years of the new millennium. There are a number of changes and confrontations experience by all, but the most intriguing, and important, revolves around Emma’s (Tilda Swinton) affair with young chef Antonio (Edoardo Gabbriellini).

‘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.

This film in made to be consumed firsthand. The stunning imagery leaves such an impression and is seasoned delectably with it’s soundtrack. The costumes are so striking and Antonella Cannarozzi was appropriately nominated for an Academy Award. Emma is so very elegant colour blocking those slip dresses, with simple dashes of red on the lips and classic sparkles at the ears. (Don’t those wrap around sunglasses so perfectly capture the essence of the time?) A lavish and graceful film, a must see!