Among the upper classes in turn-of-the-millennium Milan, ailing patriarch Edoardo Sr passes the family business over to his son Tancredi and grandson Edoardo Jr. Tensions soon begin to show beneath the family’s controlled veneer as Tancredi’s wife, Russian-born Emma, succumbs to an illicit affair.

Dazzling the senses, I Am Love revives the lavish, elegant, emotionally expressive style of classic ’50s melodramas and proves their timeless vitality. It also confirms Tilda Swinton—who learned both Italian and Russian for the role(!)—as one of the best, most unpredictable actors.