Later this summer you'll have two opportunities to watch three generations of extremely good looking Italian merchant dynasties cope with suppressed desires, unexpected passions, strong mothers, all-seeing servants, and grown children finally coming out to their conservative families. In both movies the gay third generation marks a seismic change in freedom from the stifled affections of their elders, but the films have opposite personalities, immediately evident in their trailers.
The Tilda Swinton starrer I Am Love is richer in every sense. Very likely it's the most sumptuous, most elegant film you'll see this year. Predictably, Swinton is splendid as a Russian wife beautifully trapped in a Milanese clan. The debut director charmed the audience at New Directors New Films apologizing for sounding pretentious as he said this was his Buddenbrooks. Even the gorgeous, confining mansion becomes a character. Over the top but a must see for cineastes, from June 18.
After Steam: The Turkish Bath, His Secret Life, Facing Windows, and Saturn in Opposition, Ferzan Ozpetek has made his funniest and most blatantly enjoyable film yet. Loose Cannons is an ensemble dramedy that sometimes aspires toward Almodovar and sometimes toward Mamma Mia. More than summer fun, if not quite profound, it features six queer characters, including the lead played by Riccardo Scamarcio of Eden Is West. Tonight at the Tribeca Film Festival, Ozpetek and three of his actresses discussed the joys of filming in Lucca. Indiewire offers a brief interview.
Non posso aspettare piu! Lucca, Almodovar al italiano, all that luxe...plus the older Italian woman calmly saying, "Come sei brutta." (At least she uses the "familiar" form.) I must see these films. Thanks for bringing them to our attention, carissimo.
Posted by: Sandy | April 30, 2010 at 07:32 AM