Not in love with "I am Love"

Last night I went to see the movie, "I am Love." It's Italian, and having just returned from Italy I thought it was an appropriate choice. And I like Tilda Swinton, the lead, who is extremely talented - and who defies categorization. She's mysterious... reminding me of a reptile, somehow.

What was clearly a carefully crafted and well thought-out film turned out, surprisingly, to be tedious and disappointing. Many smaller aspects of the story felt powerful and genuine, and were handled with subtlety and a grace: the shadowy role of an in-law within a strong family unit, the domestic servant who is, in many ways, at the heart of the family, the lead character's faded homesickness for her homeland... But for me the love story - which was the main plot - was neither compelling nor convincing - in spite of graphic love scenes that had me blushing in my seat. And I'm not prudish about love scenes. I have always liked 9 1/2 weeks - even though it's considered to be vaguely (or not so vaguely) pornographic. But I don't need to be as familiar with Ms. Swinton's private parts as her waxer. Nor do I need to see her lover's scrotum.

Perhaps my biggest problem was the music, which was overwhelming and intrusive. Unsettling at best, and distractingly loud at worst... It was a perfect example of what my husband calls being "told how to feel" with a heavy-handed soundtrack.

I'm conflicted - because in some ways this was a rich and complex film - with fine acting and highly effective cinematography (I say "effective", because - while not always beautiful, it mirrored the story on many levels) - but my experience watching it wasn't enjoyable. I wasn't expecting a fast-paced movie - but even for a foreign film it seemed slow, and long - at just 2 hours.

So I don't recommend you go out and see this movie... not unless the heat wave returns and you don't have air-conditioning at home.

But I'm still thinking about it...