Review of I Am Love (2010) by Santiago P — 30 Aug 2011

This is a beautiful, slow paced and subtle film. It is about a family that swallows and feed from individuals, wether they gravitate close enough as mating partners for one of its members or they are born inside of it and lose their soul as they lose innocence.

The film depicts the various stages of the individuality struggle against the power of the clan: from an absolutely liberated lesbian, the innocent victim first-born child (which is shown in two generations and implied a third one in the final scene of the film), all the way up to a cynical first generation spouse and a 100% family certified child of the congregation.

In the middle of it, the film focus a bit more on a second generation spouse, a person that self admitted lost all individuality when she was swallowed by the clan. Her struggle is thrusted by love, hence the name of the film, and in the end she finds an exit through the lowest channel possible, treason.

A moral paradox perhaps, just how low as an individual you have to go to obtained a freedom you lost to a congregation? How much are you justified? Are you to blame for getting to this point? In the end there is not a right answer, just life: decisions, regrets, lessons, pain and relief.