First Love (Primo Amore)

Wednesday,
February 15 – 7:30pm
Italy
2004. Director: Matteo Garrone.
Cast: Michela Cescon, Vitaliano Trevisan, Roberto Comacchio

Love, domination, self-esteem and eating disorders are
at the heart of First Love, a harrowing psychological drama based
on a true story about a thoroughly dysfunctional relationship.

When Sonia (Michela Cescon) is told on a blind date
by the otherwise charming Vittorio (Vitaliano Trevisan) that he thought
she’d be thinner, she lacks the self-reliance to end their relationship
before it begins. Instead, the two start dating and soon move in together,
living in virtual isolation in the country outside of Verona. The older,
balding Vittorio cajoles the already thin Sonia into losing weight and,
using a chart to keep track of her decreasing size, he monitors her every
bite — to the point of weighing bags of food to make sure she’s
not eating when he’s not home. Trying desperately hard to please Vittorio,
Sonia’s lack of food results in both physical and psychological debilitation. Colour, 35mm, in Italian with
English subtitles. 100 mins.

Frames of Mind is a monthly film event run utilizing
film and video to promote professional and community education on issues
pertaining to mental health and illness.

Few actresses have so daringly
bared themselves (literally) in such a vulnerable way. As
Vittorio, Trevisan manages to be both malevolent and sympathetic, which
is also no mean trick
Russell Edwards, Variety

Post-screening
discussion with Dr.
Laird Birmingham, Director of the Eating Disorders Program at
the UBC Department of Psychiatry and Director of the B.C. Provincial Eating
Disorders Program.

Moderated by Dr. Harry
Karlinsky, Director of Continuing Medical Education and Professional
Development, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia.

Co-sponsored by the
B.C. Provincial Eating Disorders Program

The media sponsor of Frames of Mind is The
Ubyssey.