Stealing Beauty (1996)

Got virginity?

Stealing Beauty stars Liv Tyler, Jeremy Irons, Joseph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, and a host of talented Italian actors. (I only mention the names preceding because those are probably the names you will recognize. Other than Tyler and Irons, most of the substantial roles seem to have been performed by Italian actors.)

At any rate, Tyler stars as Lucy Harmon, the 19-year-old, virginal daughter of a famous poet who has recently committed suicide. Lucy, upon going through her late mother's things, finds evidence that the man she thought was her father is not, indeed, her father. Her mother's notes suggest that an Italian man is Lucy's true father. Curious, Lucy goes to an art colony (of sorts) in Italy that her mother used to frequent to find out more.

There, we are introduced to a bohemian way of life and an eccentric cast of characters. Lovable Alex (Irons), a writer with a terminal illness, becomes fast friends with Lucy. As the summer progresses, Lucy discovers the identity of her father and finds her first love.

This film is beautifully shot. It takes a nostalgic, romantic view of Italy and the artist's life. The film explores the concepts of love, secrets, and youth. I enjoyed watching most of it, though there was a bit too much nudity and profanity for my taste. This is definitely an adults-only film, but there are some good performances (notably Tyler, Irons, and a solid turn by Sinead Cusack) that make the film worth watching.

(The film actually reminded me a bit of an arty version of those old "losing your virginity" movies of the 80s. It's sort-of the same concept, but treated with a loftier, more serious tone and set in a MUCH more atmospheric location.) August 31, 2008

Dream On

Stealing Beauty is about Lucy Harmon (Liv Tyler), who goes to Italy to have her portrait done. Actually, a sculpture carved in wood with a chain saw. Do we ever see it? I don't think we ever do, but by then it isn't really so important. The portrait is the film, a portrait of a beautiful but awkward young woman, and the writers, artists, and Italians who come to this beautiful Italian villa for various reasons.

Lucy has other reasons for coming here besides sculpture, too. Her mother, Sara Harmon, was a poet who committed suicide. From her mothers notebooks she infers that she may have been conceived here, in an olive grove atop a hill. She wants to find out who her real father is, and the likely candidates are all here as well. Not only does she want to find out who her father is, she would also like to lose her virginity, hoping for the right person and a suitable beautiful setting.

It is a beautiful setting, but for some, like English playwright Alex (Jeremy Irons) who is aged and infirm, there is little to do but gossip. Others have affairs of their own to occupy them, but they are not immune to gossip either, and Lucy's virginity becomes a subject of intense interest.

Director Bernardo Bertolucci began as a poet, worked for Pier Paolo Pasolini as assistant director, and switched from poetry to films, but approaching film more as poetry. His best film is The Last Tango in Paris (1972), but The Last Emperor (1987) walked away with nine Academy Awards. Stealing Beauty is not up to that caliber, but it isn't as bad as you think it is going to be when you first see Liv.

She seems like a dork, and all the men seem like lecherous creeps, especially Irons. You are expecting a big train wreck, that Liv Tyler, as beautiful as she is, won't be able to act, and Bertolucci will be arrested for stealing beauty.

For instance, her poetry:

The three poems we see Lucy (Liv Tyler) compose while in Italy are:
1. I have her secret deep within for years I've had to hide I've bought the clues And now I'm hoping To bring the truth outside
2. I wait I wait so patiently I'm as quiet as a cup I hope you'll come and rattle me Quick! Come wake me up.
3. The dye is cast The dice are rolled I feel like **** you look like gold.

For someone who is supposed to be the daughter of a poet, and a character in a film by a director who began as a poet, this is not very impressive. However, Lucy just seems to express herself that way, and it comes natural to her. She doesn't expect to win the Wurlitzer prize for it, she just tears it out of the newspaper she scribbled it on and uses it for a bookmark.

Anyway, Liv Tyler ends up doing a pretty good job of acting in spite of her inexperience, dyslexia, and lack of training. Perhaps she had life experience to draw from. The daughter of Bebe Buell and Steve Tyler, she grew up thinking that Todd Rundgren was her father. Seeing that Tyler's daughter Mia could be her twin, she figured out the puzzle, and had her last name changed to Tyler by age 12.

So, while not Bertolucci's best work, Stealing Beauty is not nearly as bad as Ithought it would be. Alex ends up being not such a bad guy after all, and there are plenty of lecherous creeps, and some that are just plain lecherous, but there are also some decent male characters. Not to mention the female characters, besides Liv. Add all that to the beautiful settings, and I was able to steal a bit of beauty from this movie myself.


FILMS DIRECTED BY BERTOLUCCI

Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor : Director's Cut [Import, All-region] (Dvd) (1987)
Last Tango in Paris(1972)

FILMS AND ROLES OF JEREMY IRONS

Lolita (1997) .... Humbert Humbert
Damage (1992) .... Dr. Stephen Fleming
Kafka [Region 2] (1991) .... Kafka
Dead Ringers (1988) .... Beverly Mantle / Elliot Mantle
Swann in Love (1984) .... Charles Swann

FILMS AND ROLES OF LIV TYLER

Jersey Girl (2004) .... Maya
The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition) (2001) .... Arwen
Armageddon (1998/I) .... Grace Stamper July 27, 2008

Woman's Movie

In spite of Jeremy Irons and and Bertolucci directing, I was dissapointed in the sentimentality that surrounded this film.

Not for everyone. What I would call a "woman's movie" and not a high recommendation on my list. June 23, 2008

Good film.

Bernardo Bertolucci has given us another beautiful film. This one is set in the Italian countryside where a girl, coming of age, takes us through her confusions of love, sex, and people overall.
With an amazing cast that is anchored by the always great Jeremy Irons, Stealing Beauty is a great emotional tale. Liv Tyler is beautiful beyond belief in this film and the story keeps you interested with wonderful characters.
And for the guys, come on, it is worth it for getting to see Liv Tyler topless if nothing else, so I think it is a good movie for couples because the women will love it, and the men (At least one part of it...haha!)
I do recommend this movie and any film by Bernardo Bertolucci. June 4, 2008

Beautiful and Graceful

This is a beautiful film. It's a spot on treatment on how people, particularly men, interact with a virginal young beauty. The Italian countryside is so beautiful. The flow of the film is slow and dreamy. What I loved about the characters is that they are all human and full of flaws like everybody else. I first watched this film when I was sixteen and now several years later it is just as stunning. May 21, 2008

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