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Review: I am Love (Io sono l'amore) (2009)
This film was definitely an abstract one. I'm not sure that I totally understood it, and surprisingly, I wasn't able to find much online discussion surrounding this movie.
I'd say this movie was okay. It's definitely not for those who don't care for abstract story telling. But as an arthouse film, I was expecting the cinematography to be a little more special and more stylish. So overall, it was just okay.
Spoilers.
Story
Emma married into a very wealthy Italian family. She had three children, Edoardo Jr, Betta, and Gianluca. Emma befriended and eventually had an affair with Edo Jr's friend Antonio. Edo Jr found out about the affair and had an argument his mother. In an accident, he fell and hit his head, which resulted in his death. Emma confessed to her husband about her affair. Her husband became cold, and told her, in English, "You don't exist." Emma ran home and with the help of the housekeeper Ida, packed her bags and left, with the approval of her daughter Betta.
The pacing of this story was curious. It took half of the movie for Antonio and Emma to start their affair. During that first half, we just observed the Recchi family in their everyday goings-on.
The second half of the movie focused on expressing the emotions between Antonio and Emma. We saw them spending time together, but we also saw changes in Emma's behaviour. She was often spontaneously happy, but she was also antsy when missing Antonio.
Of course, the affair boiled to a point when Edo discovered that his mother was having an affair with his good friend/business partner, and that's when we watched Emma's role in the Recchi family being challenged.
Tancredi was cold to Emma after her reveal. He told her that she didn't exist. Before Emma was married, she went by a Russian name that she no longer remembered. After marrying into the Recchi family, she played the role of a good and amicable wife. She told Antonio that food was the only way she was able to connect with her Russian heritage in a lonely country, and perhaps that was why she was attracted to Antonio in the first place (because he was able to appreciate food). Anyway, seeing that Emma was no longer Tancredi's good loyal wife, I think he didn't recognize her as a Recchi anymore.
As Emma was about to leave, she shared a moment with Betta. Betta had left her boyfriend to be with a woman. I think we were supposed to understand that Betta knew how difficult it could be to be with someone you loved, and that was why she approved of her mother leaving a powerful and rich family to be with someone who allowed her to be herself.
Gianluca and Rori seemed indifferent to Emma leaving. That, or they didn't realize that that was what she was doing. After Eva revealed that she was pregnant, I think that kind of solidified the fact that the Recchi family would stand with Edo, against Emma. In a post credit scene, Emma was in a cave with Antonio, implying that they got their happy ending.
Production
Cinematography
For a movie about a rich family, I was expecting cinematography that was perhaps a litle sharper and fancier. Instead, the cinematography was a little more "normal." It wasn't bad, but it didn't really give off the vibe that one would expect of a wealthy family.
Perhaps this sort of cinematography suited Emma's feelings, that she felt like a fish out of water and was never really part of the elite of the Recchi family.
Music
There wasn't much music that left an impression on this movie. Towards the end, there was dramatic music, such as the scenes in which Emma was escaping the family. But otherwise, the music didn't have a big impact on the story telling.
Costume and set
While the cinematography didn't showcase the full glamour of the Recchi family, I could still recognize that their lifestyle was very lavish. This was reflected in their extremely fancy homes and the outfits that Emma wore throughout the movie.
Characters
Emma Recchi
Emma was Russian, born to an art restorer. Tancredi visited Russia to look for art and that was when he took Emma back to be his wife. Emma revealed to Antonio that Emma was a name given to her by Tancredi. This was a sign that Tancredi probably sought to rebrand Emma and mold her into something he wanted rather than letting her express herself. Such would have been the case in a family such as the Recchi family, that likely cared very much for tradition.
Emma obviously felt lonely, and cooking was one of the few ways that she could connect with her homeland. In particular, she made "ukha" soup which only Edo Jr. appreciated.
Throughout the first half of the movie, we saw that Emma was a connoisseur of food. She was visible happy when she saw the treats that Antonio was making for Edo Jr's party. When Emma, Rori, and Eva ate at the restaurant that Antonio worked at, Emma was completely lost in the experience of eating her meal, and totally ignored Rori and Eva's conversation.
Emma fell in love with Antonio through his food, but over time, it became clear that she could talk to him about personal things, such as the name she used to be called ("Kitesh"), and the food that she used to like.
As was the case in most affairs, Emma had neglected to think about how the affair would've affected her son and her husband. She'd been intoxicated by the feeling of freedom that she felt when with Antonio.
Perhaps Edo Jr. and Betta were the only reasons that Emma was still with the Recchi family. (Gianluca was rarely shown on screen or having a relationship with any of the characters, and I'm not really sure why.) Edo Jr. loved to share his Russian heritage with his mother, and Betta was particularly comfortable with sharing her love life with her mother. Now that Edo Jr. was gone (and that bridge had been burned since the family would likely not forgive her) and Emma had Betta's blessing to find love, Emma no longer felt an obligation to the Recchi family.
It was a rather hedonistic path to take, but Emma had also spent the better portion of her life playing a role that restricted her from expressing herself.
Edoardo Recchi Jr.
Edo Jr. was Tancredi and Emma's son. His grandfather named him as an heir to the Recchi company alongside his father. He was seen as an easygoing guy.
Edo Jr. shared a connection with his mother over her Russian heritage. In addition, Edo Jr. was enthusiastic about starting a restaurant with Antonio, even though Eva thought it was a bad idea. (Eva likely had her reservations about Antonio but more on that later) So it probably never occurred to Emma that anything she could do would hurt her son because he was usually so chill. Obviously, that's a poor take to have, but that's one way of interpreting it.
Edo Jr. was also proud of the family's accomplishments. He was happy to have been named an heir of the Recchi Company, and was staunchly against selling it, even when his dad was fine with the globalization of the brand. Edo Jr. had reservations about some of the labour practices of the company and a coworker told him that exploitation of labour and hypocrisy was always part of the business.
Edo Jr. was understandably upset when he found out that his mother was having an affair with a close friend, to the point that she would share their heritage with him. Edo Jr. angrily said that his mother was just like the others. I think Edo Jr. always recognized that his mother didn't fit in, and he hoped that they could always share their little secret connection, including their shared love of Russian culture.
Edo Jr. said that he'd wanted to tell her something special (probably news of his baby), but he said that he didn't want anything to do with his mother, and that's when he fell and hit his head.
While Emma was distraught about Edo Jr.'s death, she also had to come to terms that she was serious about Antonio. She had already disgraced the Recchi family by inadvertently killing her own son, so she might as well go all the way and leave completely. This was just one possible interpretation that I could think of.
Antonio Biscaglia
We first met Antonio the night of the race in which he won against Edo Jr. Edo Jr. said that they'd tied but he let Antonio have the win because he deserved it. In any case, Antonio showed up later that day with a cake, and that was when he met Emma.
Due to Antonio and Edo Jr. wanting to start a restaurant, they became more closely acquainted. Antonio started doing a lot of the cooking for the Recchis' parties, and that drew Emma closer in to his circle.
I think Antonio was attracted to Emma's good nature. She was very nice, and she clearly appreciated his food on more than a superficial level. Like Edo Jr., Antonio saw that there was a part of his mother that she didn't show to the world, where she was free and herself.
Antonio himself was also a man with dreams. He talked about his dream of opening a restaurant in that remote location on a mountain which his father did not seem to approve of. Unlike most of the Recchis, Antonio was not concerned with living up to family expectations.
Although Edo Jr. was getting closer to having a restaurant approved by Antonio's father, Antonio's relationship with Edo Jr. seemed to be growing a bit colder. That might've been because Antonio was just anxious about Edo Jr. finding out about the affair with his mother.
At the end of the movie, Antonio and Emma were seen together, so they do get their happy ending.
Elisabetta "Betta" Recchi
Betta was originally an artist who used traditional media, but moved to photography, which disappointed her grandfather a bit. She had also left a relationship with a man called Grigorio.
Betta moved to London where she met a woman whom she was deeply in love with. In addition, when Tancredi visited her, he said that she seemed very motivated. After returning form London, Betta was looking for places across Europe where she could showcase her photography.
Betta was very close with Edo Jr. and Emma. She'd spoken to Edo Jr. about how much she loved her new girlfriend. She'd also thanked Edo Jr. for supporting her work in the arts, but their relationship was so close that Edo Jr. didn't even want the thanks from his sister.
Betta was also close with her mother, which made sense. Emma was very gentle, so Betta felt comfortable sharing her new love with her mother.
While Betta was sad to see her mother go, I think that like Edo Jr., she recognized that there was a part of her mother that was oppressed by the Recchi family. If Betta had conformed to Recchi expectations, she probably would've gotten back with Grigorio or another Italian man from a prominent family. But she understood how being with someone you loved could be a life altering experience and could bring new life into someone like her mother, so she saw that it was something that would be good for her mom.
Tancredi Recchi
Tancredi was Emma's husband. As we discussed, he had brought Emma with him from Russia, and given her a new name. We didn't see him a whole lot, but based on Emma's description, he wasn't cruel, but he just didn't really encourage her to express herself.
Rori said that when Tancredi was marrying Emma, he said that he'd be marrying a woman who was even more beautiful than her. I think Tancredi had an idea of what a Recchi wife was supposed to be like, and he thought that Emma fit the mold, regardless of her actual character. In her role as a Mrs. Recchi, Emma was agreeable, nice, and fit her role as a head of the house.
He was angry and cold to Emma for having an affair, telling her that she didn't exist anymore. He no longer recognized his wife as the woman that he wanted, and I think he didn't care if she left.
Ida Marangon
Ida was a housekeeper but was very close with the family. When Edo Jr. was upset about selling the business, he was comforted by Ida.
Emma was understandably close with Ida. When Emma was lonely she'd ask Ida to have dinner with her, though Ida would decline. I think Ida probably knew something about the affair, seeing as how they were close. In the end, Ida helped Emma to pack as she knew that Emma had to leave, both because her heart told her to, and because there was no chance she could go on in the Recchi family.
Eva Ugolini
Eva was Edo Jr.'s girlfriend. It seems she was also from another prominent family and so she was well matched to Edo Jr.
When we first met Eva, she kind of turned her head up at Antonio, saying that Edo Jr. had lost his race to a mere chef. Her family owned the building that Antonio worked at. Later on, Eva said that Edo Jr. opening up a restaurant with Antonio was a bad idea, and that they were too enthusiastic about it without thinking about the situation as a financial decision.
It was revealed that Eva was pregnant, so it was clearly devastating for her that Edo Jr. had died at that time.
Edoardo Recchi Sr.
Edo Sr. was the patriarch. I think he had been the one to grow the Recchi family to its current status. During the dinner party, he designated Tancredi and Edo Jr. as his heirs. He insisted that the company would need two men to replace him. It did seem a little arrogant, but it's hard to believe that he wouldn't be a little arrogant and confident if he'd been the one to bring the Recchi family to new heights.
Allegra "Rori" Recchi
I think Rori was kind of the "perfect" Recchi wife. She was great at damage control. When Edo Sr. was disappointed about Betta's gift being a photograph and not a drawing, Rori was quick to tell people that Edo Sr. would get over it. Later on, we saw the photograph being prominently displayed in Rori and Edo Sr.'s house.
Rori also had great intuition. She could tell that Edo Jr. was about to propose, and she decided to present the gift of a piece of art to her, including her as part of the Recchi family.
Rori was great at networking and her conversationall skills were superb. I think Tancredi wanted to find someone who was like his mother, who could manage her way through any social situation and come out on top. I think that Rori also tried to lead by example. She invited Emma and Eva out on a "Recchi Wives" event, where I think she was making an effort to be a leader to the other two so that they could continue managing the Recchi family.
Themes
Love
Emma and Betta's romantic relationships were definitely different from Edo Jr.'s romantic relationship. I think that Emma and Betta sought out relationships in which they would not be afraid to be themselves around their partner.
On the other hand, I think that Edo Jr. followed his father and grandfather's paths in which they sought a partner that would help the longevity of the family. As we saw, Edo Jr. was very upset about the Recchi Company being sold, so I think Edo Jr. had a lot of pride in being part of a prestigious family. As we know, Eva was also from a prominent family and she seemed like a family woman.
Meanwhile, Emma and Betta's partners would not be approved by the Recchi family. Obviously, Antonio was an affair partner so that was obviously a slap in Tancredi's face. As for Betta, she only felt comfortable sharing her sexuality with her brother at first.
I wonder if it was because while all the members of the family were expected to follow Recchi tradition, only men had the opportunity to achieve greatness in the Recchi company. Women of the Recchi family would only be respected as wives or daughters of the Recchi family as opposed to people in their own right, whereas the Recchi men could be important executives of the Recchi company. So there was less incentive for the women to look for a marriage that would help the family because they didn't really have as much to gain from a marriage of convenience than a marriage of love.
Roles
As discussed, it seemed that Recchi wives were expected to support their husbands. Rori did a very good job of doing that. Emma tried to do so, but an important part of her identity was pushed down, to the point that when anybody encouraged her to share her identity, they had won her heart.
Culture
Edo Jr. liked sharing his Russian heritage with his mother. On the other hand, it seemed that Tancredi likely never expressed interest or encouraged Emma to express her Russian side. After all, he gave her a new name, perhaps because her original name was "too Russian."
Over time, their Russian culture became a special thing between Emma and Edo Jr. because no one else in the family appreciated it. The other kids hated the ukha soup.
So I think it was a huge betrayal to Edo Jr. when Emma shared the ukha soup and her personal story with Antonio, as Antonio wasn't even Russian by heritage or related by blood to her.
Overall
This was a movie that did make me think, but I think I'd hoped for the cinematography to feel more elegant and sharper.
I'd say this movie was okay. It's definitely not for those who don't care for abstract story telling. But as an arthouse film, I was expecting the cinematography to be a little more special and more stylish. So overall, it was just okay.
Spoilers.
Story
Emma married into a very wealthy Italian family. She had three children, Edoardo Jr, Betta, and Gianluca. Emma befriended and eventually had an affair with Edo Jr's friend Antonio. Edo Jr found out about the affair and had an argument his mother. In an accident, he fell and hit his head, which resulted in his death. Emma confessed to her husband about her affair. Her husband became cold, and told her, in English, "You don't exist." Emma ran home and with the help of the housekeeper Ida, packed her bags and left, with the approval of her daughter Betta.
The pacing of this story was curious. It took half of the movie for Antonio and Emma to start their affair. During that first half, we just observed the Recchi family in their everyday goings-on.
The second half of the movie focused on expressing the emotions between Antonio and Emma. We saw them spending time together, but we also saw changes in Emma's behaviour. She was often spontaneously happy, but she was also antsy when missing Antonio.
Of course, the affair boiled to a point when Edo discovered that his mother was having an affair with his good friend/business partner, and that's when we watched Emma's role in the Recchi family being challenged.
Tancredi was cold to Emma after her reveal. He told her that she didn't exist. Before Emma was married, she went by a Russian name that she no longer remembered. After marrying into the Recchi family, she played the role of a good and amicable wife. She told Antonio that food was the only way she was able to connect with her Russian heritage in a lonely country, and perhaps that was why she was attracted to Antonio in the first place (because he was able to appreciate food). Anyway, seeing that Emma was no longer Tancredi's good loyal wife, I think he didn't recognize her as a Recchi anymore.
As Emma was about to leave, she shared a moment with Betta. Betta had left her boyfriend to be with a woman. I think we were supposed to understand that Betta knew how difficult it could be to be with someone you loved, and that was why she approved of her mother leaving a powerful and rich family to be with someone who allowed her to be herself.
Gianluca and Rori seemed indifferent to Emma leaving. That, or they didn't realize that that was what she was doing. After Eva revealed that she was pregnant, I think that kind of solidified the fact that the Recchi family would stand with Edo, against Emma. In a post credit scene, Emma was in a cave with Antonio, implying that they got their happy ending.
Production
Cinematography
For a movie about a rich family, I was expecting cinematography that was perhaps a litle sharper and fancier. Instead, the cinematography was a little more "normal." It wasn't bad, but it didn't really give off the vibe that one would expect of a wealthy family.
Perhaps this sort of cinematography suited Emma's feelings, that she felt like a fish out of water and was never really part of the elite of the Recchi family.
Music
There wasn't much music that left an impression on this movie. Towards the end, there was dramatic music, such as the scenes in which Emma was escaping the family. But otherwise, the music didn't have a big impact on the story telling.
Costume and set
While the cinematography didn't showcase the full glamour of the Recchi family, I could still recognize that their lifestyle was very lavish. This was reflected in their extremely fancy homes and the outfits that Emma wore throughout the movie.
Characters
Emma Recchi
Emma was Russian, born to an art restorer. Tancredi visited Russia to look for art and that was when he took Emma back to be his wife. Emma revealed to Antonio that Emma was a name given to her by Tancredi. This was a sign that Tancredi probably sought to rebrand Emma and mold her into something he wanted rather than letting her express herself. Such would have been the case in a family such as the Recchi family, that likely cared very much for tradition.
Emma obviously felt lonely, and cooking was one of the few ways that she could connect with her homeland. In particular, she made "ukha" soup which only Edo Jr. appreciated.
Throughout the first half of the movie, we saw that Emma was a connoisseur of food. She was visible happy when she saw the treats that Antonio was making for Edo Jr's party. When Emma, Rori, and Eva ate at the restaurant that Antonio worked at, Emma was completely lost in the experience of eating her meal, and totally ignored Rori and Eva's conversation.
Emma fell in love with Antonio through his food, but over time, it became clear that she could talk to him about personal things, such as the name she used to be called ("Kitesh"), and the food that she used to like.
As was the case in most affairs, Emma had neglected to think about how the affair would've affected her son and her husband. She'd been intoxicated by the feeling of freedom that she felt when with Antonio.
Perhaps Edo Jr. and Betta were the only reasons that Emma was still with the Recchi family. (Gianluca was rarely shown on screen or having a relationship with any of the characters, and I'm not really sure why.) Edo Jr. loved to share his Russian heritage with his mother, and Betta was particularly comfortable with sharing her love life with her mother. Now that Edo Jr. was gone (and that bridge had been burned since the family would likely not forgive her) and Emma had Betta's blessing to find love, Emma no longer felt an obligation to the Recchi family.
It was a rather hedonistic path to take, but Emma had also spent the better portion of her life playing a role that restricted her from expressing herself.
Edoardo Recchi Jr.
Edo Jr. was Tancredi and Emma's son. His grandfather named him as an heir to the Recchi company alongside his father. He was seen as an easygoing guy.
Edo Jr. shared a connection with his mother over her Russian heritage. In addition, Edo Jr. was enthusiastic about starting a restaurant with Antonio, even though Eva thought it was a bad idea. (Eva likely had her reservations about Antonio but more on that later) So it probably never occurred to Emma that anything she could do would hurt her son because he was usually so chill. Obviously, that's a poor take to have, but that's one way of interpreting it.
Edo Jr. was also proud of the family's accomplishments. He was happy to have been named an heir of the Recchi Company, and was staunchly against selling it, even when his dad was fine with the globalization of the brand. Edo Jr. had reservations about some of the labour practices of the company and a coworker told him that exploitation of labour and hypocrisy was always part of the business.
Edo Jr. was understandably upset when he found out that his mother was having an affair with a close friend, to the point that she would share their heritage with him. Edo Jr. angrily said that his mother was just like the others. I think Edo Jr. always recognized that his mother didn't fit in, and he hoped that they could always share their little secret connection, including their shared love of Russian culture.
Edo Jr. said that he'd wanted to tell her something special (probably news of his baby), but he said that he didn't want anything to do with his mother, and that's when he fell and hit his head.
While Emma was distraught about Edo Jr.'s death, she also had to come to terms that she was serious about Antonio. She had already disgraced the Recchi family by inadvertently killing her own son, so she might as well go all the way and leave completely. This was just one possible interpretation that I could think of.
Antonio Biscaglia
We first met Antonio the night of the race in which he won against Edo Jr. Edo Jr. said that they'd tied but he let Antonio have the win because he deserved it. In any case, Antonio showed up later that day with a cake, and that was when he met Emma.
Due to Antonio and Edo Jr. wanting to start a restaurant, they became more closely acquainted. Antonio started doing a lot of the cooking for the Recchis' parties, and that drew Emma closer in to his circle.
I think Antonio was attracted to Emma's good nature. She was very nice, and she clearly appreciated his food on more than a superficial level. Like Edo Jr., Antonio saw that there was a part of his mother that she didn't show to the world, where she was free and herself.
Antonio himself was also a man with dreams. He talked about his dream of opening a restaurant in that remote location on a mountain which his father did not seem to approve of. Unlike most of the Recchis, Antonio was not concerned with living up to family expectations.
Although Edo Jr. was getting closer to having a restaurant approved by Antonio's father, Antonio's relationship with Edo Jr. seemed to be growing a bit colder. That might've been because Antonio was just anxious about Edo Jr. finding out about the affair with his mother.
At the end of the movie, Antonio and Emma were seen together, so they do get their happy ending.
Elisabetta "Betta" Recchi
Betta was originally an artist who used traditional media, but moved to photography, which disappointed her grandfather a bit. She had also left a relationship with a man called Grigorio.
Betta moved to London where she met a woman whom she was deeply in love with. In addition, when Tancredi visited her, he said that she seemed very motivated. After returning form London, Betta was looking for places across Europe where she could showcase her photography.
Betta was very close with Edo Jr. and Emma. She'd spoken to Edo Jr. about how much she loved her new girlfriend. She'd also thanked Edo Jr. for supporting her work in the arts, but their relationship was so close that Edo Jr. didn't even want the thanks from his sister.
Betta was also close with her mother, which made sense. Emma was very gentle, so Betta felt comfortable sharing her new love with her mother.
While Betta was sad to see her mother go, I think that like Edo Jr., she recognized that there was a part of her mother that was oppressed by the Recchi family. If Betta had conformed to Recchi expectations, she probably would've gotten back with Grigorio or another Italian man from a prominent family. But she understood how being with someone you loved could be a life altering experience and could bring new life into someone like her mother, so she saw that it was something that would be good for her mom.
Tancredi Recchi
Tancredi was Emma's husband. As we discussed, he had brought Emma with him from Russia, and given her a new name. We didn't see him a whole lot, but based on Emma's description, he wasn't cruel, but he just didn't really encourage her to express herself.
Rori said that when Tancredi was marrying Emma, he said that he'd be marrying a woman who was even more beautiful than her. I think Tancredi had an idea of what a Recchi wife was supposed to be like, and he thought that Emma fit the mold, regardless of her actual character. In her role as a Mrs. Recchi, Emma was agreeable, nice, and fit her role as a head of the house.
He was angry and cold to Emma for having an affair, telling her that she didn't exist anymore. He no longer recognized his wife as the woman that he wanted, and I think he didn't care if she left.
Ida Marangon
Ida was a housekeeper but was very close with the family. When Edo Jr. was upset about selling the business, he was comforted by Ida.
Emma was understandably close with Ida. When Emma was lonely she'd ask Ida to have dinner with her, though Ida would decline. I think Ida probably knew something about the affair, seeing as how they were close. In the end, Ida helped Emma to pack as she knew that Emma had to leave, both because her heart told her to, and because there was no chance she could go on in the Recchi family.
Eva Ugolini
Eva was Edo Jr.'s girlfriend. It seems she was also from another prominent family and so she was well matched to Edo Jr.
When we first met Eva, she kind of turned her head up at Antonio, saying that Edo Jr. had lost his race to a mere chef. Her family owned the building that Antonio worked at. Later on, Eva said that Edo Jr. opening up a restaurant with Antonio was a bad idea, and that they were too enthusiastic about it without thinking about the situation as a financial decision.
It was revealed that Eva was pregnant, so it was clearly devastating for her that Edo Jr. had died at that time.
Edoardo Recchi Sr.
Edo Sr. was the patriarch. I think he had been the one to grow the Recchi family to its current status. During the dinner party, he designated Tancredi and Edo Jr. as his heirs. He insisted that the company would need two men to replace him. It did seem a little arrogant, but it's hard to believe that he wouldn't be a little arrogant and confident if he'd been the one to bring the Recchi family to new heights.
Allegra "Rori" Recchi
I think Rori was kind of the "perfect" Recchi wife. She was great at damage control. When Edo Sr. was disappointed about Betta's gift being a photograph and not a drawing, Rori was quick to tell people that Edo Sr. would get over it. Later on, we saw the photograph being prominently displayed in Rori and Edo Sr.'s house.
Rori also had great intuition. She could tell that Edo Jr. was about to propose, and she decided to present the gift of a piece of art to her, including her as part of the Recchi family.
Rori was great at networking and her conversationall skills were superb. I think Tancredi wanted to find someone who was like his mother, who could manage her way through any social situation and come out on top. I think that Rori also tried to lead by example. She invited Emma and Eva out on a "Recchi Wives" event, where I think she was making an effort to be a leader to the other two so that they could continue managing the Recchi family.
Themes
Love
Emma and Betta's romantic relationships were definitely different from Edo Jr.'s romantic relationship. I think that Emma and Betta sought out relationships in which they would not be afraid to be themselves around their partner.
On the other hand, I think that Edo Jr. followed his father and grandfather's paths in which they sought a partner that would help the longevity of the family. As we saw, Edo Jr. was very upset about the Recchi Company being sold, so I think Edo Jr. had a lot of pride in being part of a prestigious family. As we know, Eva was also from a prominent family and she seemed like a family woman.
Meanwhile, Emma and Betta's partners would not be approved by the Recchi family. Obviously, Antonio was an affair partner so that was obviously a slap in Tancredi's face. As for Betta, she only felt comfortable sharing her sexuality with her brother at first.
I wonder if it was because while all the members of the family were expected to follow Recchi tradition, only men had the opportunity to achieve greatness in the Recchi company. Women of the Recchi family would only be respected as wives or daughters of the Recchi family as opposed to people in their own right, whereas the Recchi men could be important executives of the Recchi company. So there was less incentive for the women to look for a marriage that would help the family because they didn't really have as much to gain from a marriage of convenience than a marriage of love.
Roles
As discussed, it seemed that Recchi wives were expected to support their husbands. Rori did a very good job of doing that. Emma tried to do so, but an important part of her identity was pushed down, to the point that when anybody encouraged her to share her identity, they had won her heart.
Culture
Edo Jr. liked sharing his Russian heritage with his mother. On the other hand, it seemed that Tancredi likely never expressed interest or encouraged Emma to express her Russian side. After all, he gave her a new name, perhaps because her original name was "too Russian."
Over time, their Russian culture became a special thing between Emma and Edo Jr. because no one else in the family appreciated it. The other kids hated the ukha soup.
So I think it was a huge betrayal to Edo Jr. when Emma shared the ukha soup and her personal story with Antonio, as Antonio wasn't even Russian by heritage or related by blood to her.
Overall
This was a movie that did make me think, but I think I'd hoped for the cinematography to feel more elegant and sharper.