Stumbled on this film on Sundance channel prior to leaving for work...saw one scene and decided to watch for it so I could see it from the beginning. I wasn't disappointed- this is brilliant film-making- a story of a control obsessed man- who attempts to makeover his new girlfriend physically into his idea of perfection. All the while he is totally losing control of his "other" life: he is late for appointments, unable to deal with buyers, uncompromising in his dealings with partners. The girlfriend is swept up in his obsession for her- his single mindedness about her- to the point where, emaciated, she claims to "like herself better"- although her brother describes her as a "wilted flower". Not exactly the normal effect love has, but this is not really that kind of love story. This is "First Love", and Vittorio's first love or primary love is hardly this or any other girlfriend. Vittorio creates delicate little pieces of jewelry that his partners moan are "too much detail, not enough weight." Happily the same can not be said of this film which has plenty of both. See it if you're serious.
Review of Primo amore
