7/10
A Tragic Tale of Infidelity, In a Very Odd Romance
14 February 2004
In the Eighteenth Century, in Italy, the Countess Carlotta (Isabelle Huppert) meets occasionally the Baron Eduardo (Jean-Hughes Anglad). They has a crush for each other in the past, when they were young, and they decide to get married very soon. One year after, Eduardo decides to invite his friend, the architect Ottone (Fabrizio Bentivoglio) to stay with them and help them to improve their property. Then, Carlotta decides to invite her goddaughter Ottilia (Marie Gillain) to stay also with them to make company to Ottone. Carlotta feels attracted by Ottone, and Eduardo falls in love with Ottilia. These attractions lead the four central characters to an affair with tragic consequences. This romance is very strange. It is about infidelity, in a very different world in Italy in the 18th Century . Although those things of love are very unpredictable, it sounds very strange that a couple like Eduardo and Carlotta, newlywed and in love for each other, have this type of affair proposed in the film. I myself have not bought the story. The direction and performances are impeccable, but the story has not convinced me. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): `As Afinidades Eletivas' (`The Elective Affinities')
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