How is it that a film so culturally removed from my life’s experience can resonate with me so powerfully, even decades after its release? I first saw this film on VHS tape (possibly DVD) when it came out in 1996. Not only did the soundtrack blow me away, but the film struck me as creative and beautiful in ways that films today seem unable to capture. The relationship that gradually forms between Lucy and Osvaldo is not dissimilar to my own experience of finding love. An unlikely pair, we gravitated toward each other in much the same way that Lucy and Osvaldo discover their connection. Osvaldo, the younger brother of Niccolo, has a different moral compass than his brother, which guides him in the direction of seeking a genuine relationship with a partner, something he has been struggling to find in Italy. He seeks a new life far away from Tuscany, a meaningful life where he can escape the hedonism that surrounds him. Mostly everyone appears to be living in perpetual holiday mode, in part due to their success as artists and early real estate acquisitions. But the Donatis seem to come from old money and Niccolo lives a life of self-gratification, going from one conquest to the next. This is what makes Osvaldo such an interesting character. He wants something more than momentary thrills, and so does Lucy. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t still be a virgin at 19, given the attention she would have undoubtedly received in high school. It’s her depth of character for her age that is so attractive, and she won’t allow herself to truly live until she understands her true identity. Spoiler alert: she solves the mystery. Stealing Beauty is visually intoxicating film with an incredible soundtrack. Bernardo Bertolucci and Susan Minot have written a timeless piece that will hopefully not be forgotten. I am thankful that Niccolo was ultimately unable to steal Lucy's beauty! For an extensive list of the songs and instrumentals in the film, please get in touch.
