Luca Guadagnino and Tilda Swinton are two people I have admired for years now. That isn't to say that I always like what they do. Far from it. But I appreciate the ways in which they look to keep themselves very much immersed in the art of film, as opposed to easier audience-pleasing fare. That makes it more likely that some of their work won't land with people though, of course, and this collaboration between the writer-director and a performer who seems so well-suited to his approach falls disappointingly short of what should have been something magnificent.
It's basically the story of a rich and powerful family going through a time of change. Someone dying creates a shuffle in the power hierarchy, and Emma (Tilda Swinton) seems to start feeling a bit smothered and deadened by constantly playing the role of good wife and mother. That changes when she begins an affair with Antonio (Edoardo Gabbriellini).
There's a real mixed bag here when it comes to the writing, with Guadagnino joined by Barbara Alberti, Ivan Cotroneo, and Walter Fasano (the latter being involved with a number of the director's films). You would think that this blend of talent would bring some interesting ideas to the table, but all you end up with is standard "slightly sad woman finds out more about her family, and finds herself becoming happier during an affair". It's a poor cliché at this point, and was a poor cliché back in 2009 when this was released, but it's really all the film has to offer, aside from an excellent lead performance from Swinton.
Guadagnino also gives us some nice visuals, I suppose, but this isn't on a par with what he would become capable of only slightly later on in his career. It's just a shame that it's all so unremarkable and dull, making the 120-minute runtime a bit of a slog in places.
Aside from Swinton, who is making a grand effort to keep the whole film supported on her narrow shoulders, there's a decent performance from Gabbriellini also helping things along. Alba Rohrwacher is the other person doing her best to hold your attention, but that's about it. Flavio Parenti, Diane Fleri, and Pippo Delbono play other important characters, but you'll be struggling to remember their impact on events once the end credits roll.
There are moments here to reward viewers, and most of those come courtesy of Swinton and/or Gabbriellini. They are too few and far between though, especially when you consider what must be going on in every other part of the family unit that we don't get to observe. Very disappointing stuff, although others who are interested in those involved may wish to consider that I seemed to want a very different story from the one that Guadagnino wanted to tell.
4/10
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