Le affinità elettive

Reviewers seem to have struggled with this dramatisation of a sometimes quite modern German novel that came out in 1809, the action being moved from Saxony to a gloriously picturesque Tuscany. I think the problems start with the book, where you have to decide for yourself how serious it is meant to be.

Is the author moving his characters around the chessboard for fun, so we can laugh at their foibles, or is he in deadly earnest about the destructive effects of our strongest emotions? Or should we see a bit of both, enjoying some of the comedy in the initial conflicts of love and duty (to name just two) but deeply sorry at the end over lives lost or blighted? It is a complex work of many layers, too many to discuss here.

A film can only show elements of the story and has to leave out much. Rightly, in my view, it is centred on the basic equation of the middle- aged couple A and B inviting into their quiet lives the unmarried C and D. Sticking to the human trajectory, that goes from innocent love through forbidden love to tragic deaths, it can only hint at or has to ignore many other aspects of the novel: social, cultural, scientific, religious and philosophical.

Perhaps this is why some viewers have not felt satisfied? Is there an appetite for doomed love affairs among rich people in Europe two hundred years ago? I suggest that there will always be if, like this one, they are well told, well cast and well shot (even though the baby's red wig was a bit over the top!).

What were the Taviani's doing in the Summer of 1996? Dozing off with a glass of Chianti Classico and a copy of Lucio Gaudino's "Adelaide" on a portable Video Recorder to 'inspire' them on the shoot of this drab, lifeless,un-inspired period piece? "Adelaide" was shot 5 years earlier, on a shoestring (with breadcrumbs from the Italian State Film Funds) and was directed by a Mr. Nobody. It too was inspired by a period Novel, not Goethe, but a 'minor' French Novelist, I believe. Goethe wouldn't 'turn in his grave' over the Taviani's treatment to his masterpiece... Yes he WOULD turn over and go to sleep, maybe muttering a German phrase of disgust. Darlings of the institutions, it appears the Taviani's will continue to find funds for such lame efforts in the coffers of Italy's political parties. The film is a 'rip off'. It's French protagonist,( usually riveting), is strangely absent, a very pale copy of Assumpta Serna, "Adelaide"'s mesmerizing ageing beauty with a caustic brilliance. Gaudino's small jewel of a film is beautifully shot, well acted, and respects the 'feel' of the epoch. Anyone attracted to such material, (and deluded by the Taviani mess) should take the time, and trouble to track down 'the real Mc Coy! Buona Visione!

Much criticism is possible for this one, see the other reviews. I agree with them , partially, but am no expert on scripts, etc. I will summarize the positive aspects. This is a "period piece"as so many have been made, especially in Europe. (Italy , France). As such, not much wrong with it. Being based on an 18th century novel by the famous J.W. Goethe, of course in mentality it is far away from our present times. Young people, only familiar with modern consumer cinema (Hollywood et al.) will be apalled by this kind of movie. But me, very used to, and grown up with the cinema of the likes of Luchino Visconti, were not surprised with child drowning, hysterical women, "strange relationships". It partly reminded me of L'Innocente by Visconti. Those were different times! No, I loved it, good story, great acting, especially my favorite Isabelle Huppert, good locations, a nice film.

I don't care about state subsidies or whatever, as long as it results in some movie. Culture has to be subsidized anyway, the (mass) market mechanism, under capitalist relations, cannot supply it.

"Elective Affinities," even though it stars one of my favorite actresses, Isabelle Huppert, is a terrible film. Why? The secenario is so routine that they even use the equation-symbol (i.e. A is attracted to B, while C is attracted to D., etc.) to prophesize what is about to occur, and (viola!) it does just that. A woman (I.H.) engages her lover of 20 years ago and they become married (I think that very day). They setttle in on his estate and then the husband's friend arrives for a visit, at almost the same time the women's nubile daughter arrives from college. Can you guess the rest? It's a spaghetti romance; shame on Isabelle Huppert for this one.

Taviani brothers are extremely talented filmmakers, and every movie they make is worth seeing. "Elective affinities" is a wonderful film. Based on a novel by Goethe it shows us how human lives are unable to match mathematic formulas. Tavianis direct the film with amazing simplicity and preciseness, with very few flaws. It is unlike their Italian films, but the art of those wonderful brothers is breathtaking. My Grade: **** 1/2 (out of *****)