I Am Love (Io Sono L'amore)

A wealthy, establishment Milanese family faces the future after its patriarch and family business founder passes away and in those uncertain times a Russian outsider (Tilda Swinton) who has married into the family falls in love with her son's friend and business partner.

The Italian film, I Am Love, is a film for the senses rather than for action or plot. Images lovingly linger on this family's lifestyle, lavish residences, formalities and their small army of domestic servants. This is not a film for socialists and 'struggle street' but then again ***SPOILER ALERT*** the empire is collapsing.

The opening credits have a very 1950s feel about them perhaps signalling that this is a story of people foolishly revelling in their past glories. Although there are plenty of outdoor scenes we never see a blue sky, in fact the air looks polluted. I've seen the same murky views in other Italian films. Is pollution that severe in Italy?