Io e lei

The Italian film Io e lei was shown in the U.S. with the title Me, Myself & Her (2015). It was directed by Maria Sole Tognazzi.

By now, there's nothing new about a movie in which a gay or lesbian couple experience stress within their partnership. However, this movie has its own place in the genre, because one woman Federica (Margherita Buy), wants to keep their lesbian relationship a secret. (Possibly an open secret, but a secret nonetheless.) The other partner, Marina (Sabina Ferilli), is very open about the relationship. The plot really begins when Marina--a retired movie actor--gives an interview in a newspaper where she admits honestly that she shares an apartment with a woman architect named Federica. Federica considers this a betrayal. The fact is true, but it's still a betrayal because it it was a breach of trust. Marina pushes the matter further by signing a contract to costar in a new movie, which will mean that she'll be away from Federica.

Matters move forward from there. You'll have to see the movie to find out what happens next. (It's complicated.)

Both leads are brilliant actors. I couldn't really accept Margherita Buy as a successful architect. The scenes in which she is acting the part of architect fall flat. Naturally, Sabina Ferilli is typecast as a former movie star who wants to get back into pictures when the right director comes along. Even though Margherita Buy didn't act like an architect, she certainly acted well as a woman betrayed by her lover. Ferilli was equally good. It's a pleasure to see two consummate actors working together so seamlessly.

We saw this movie at the excellent Little Theatre, as part of ImageOut, Rochester's great LGBT Film Festival. This was one of 22 films that had either their New York State premiere or their East Coast premiere at ImageOut. This is an astonishing achievement for ImageOut and for Rochester. My compliments to the ImageOut Board of Directors.

The film will work well on the small screen. IMDb reviewers has given this movie a ridiculously low rating of 6.0. This is another case where I say, "Did they see the same movie I saw"? Find this movie, watch it, and decide about it for yourself.

I didn't expect much when I started, I didn't even know what it was about and I was nicely surprised. The movie is cute, the women are beautiful, sometimes funny, sometimes sad but for me the best part, probably because I've watched too much american productions, was the portrayal of a betrayal. American productions tend to be very single minded and overly dramatic when it comes to cheating, they treat it as this awful, almost inhuman behavior, people even go to TV to apologize about it (imagine me eye rolling now). But in this movie they show betrayal as something complicated, they showed both sides, there were no villains, just humans, living and trying to deal with their feelings. Also the scene they are both in the car coming back from the getaway week-end was amazing, no dialogue, but there was so much said.

It is true that the plot is simple and I like it that way. Movies like this are there to tell a story instead of trying to fry your brain. The story is touching because how the character adores another and how secure another feels in their relationship, until life throws more than one adversity at one time. The acting is so nuanced and shooting of the film so smooth that the movie is more like a piece of music that you can play for many time and still enjoy the emotions it brings. In my view if this has been made in English n w bigger marketing budget it would have gained much greater momentum.

"Me, Myself and Her" is a terrific relationship dramedy that shows the joys of a solid relationship and the toll that being closeted can take on even the strongest of bonds. It has witty and intelligent dialogue, outstanding (and beautiful) actresses, nice cinematography (still the exception in lesbian films, alas), plus the scenic backdrop of Italy too! This movie delves into serious relationship issues, but there is humor throughout and at least two big belly laughs. I like the time it took to show how the relationship worked and, conversely, the work it took for the couple to resolve their issues. Even though the relationship issues are universal, this movie would obviously be of special interest to lesbian and gay couples. I enjoyed it very much.

Tutto sommato è una bella storia, silenziosa oserei dire: non ha colpi di scena eclatanti né situazioni avvincenti. Un film da domenica pomeriggio, nulla di più. Un LGBT che però sembra quasi provare vergogna nell'esserlo, ma come ogni altro film italiano che prova ad etichettarsi con questa sigla.