Eye For Film >> Movies >> I Am Love (2009) DVD Review
The disc features a series of rather exhaustive interviews, a commentary track featuring Tilda Swinton in conversation with director Luca Guadagnino, a trailer and some on-set footage (called, somewhat grandly, Moments On The Set Of...).
For those so swept up in the melodrama to notice the film's social commentary and technical proficiency, the interviews are a good idiot's guide. In this respect, Guadagnino's is particularly valuable. Although only 10 minutes long, it's crammed with information and for a film steeped in the ghosts of Italian cinema, it is good that he is so self-aware and articulate. Otherwise, Swinton is typically sharp and unsentimental. All the principle cast are accounted for, which means nine more interviews to follow...
It's a joy to hear Swinton and Guadagnino together on the audio commentary, which contains just the right mixture of anecdote and analysis. They refer to the screenplay, talk about the chance events that affected filming, as well as discussing their interpretations and various meanings swimming around in the movie. Also it gives you the chance to gaze at the film’s magnificent visuals. Despite being released in 2009 and set at the turn of the millennium, it has the look of Visconti from the Sixties.
As for Moments On The Set, they're strung together in a lyrical style, not too dissimilar to the film itself. The featurette is well put together, although, irritatingly, several of the interviews are overdubbed onto the soundtrack.
Reviewed on: 10 Oct 2010