A Love Supreme
Set in the suburbs of Milan, this uplifting documentary follows Alessandro and Stefania, a mentally disabled couple in love
According to Italian law, "no person with a mental disability shall enter into a marriage contract." So what happens when two such people fall in love? Stefania and Alessandro are residents of a small community in Milan that is home to people suffering from mental illness. They will not take no for an answer. This film follows their struggle to declare their love, in the face of state legislation.
"Evictions and weddings are the most stressful things in the world!" As the residents and carers sit around the dinner table on the night before the wedding, there is a nervous but eager atmosphere. One of the carers is trying to alleviate any anxiety and explain wedding etiquette to the excitable residents - weddings can be a demanding occasion for anyone, never mind for those for whom even everyday tasks can be a source of anxiety.
Stefania met Alessandro whilst in care: "we met in a group home, we were very young, and he was madly in love with me." Despite the dictates of the law, the young couples' friends and family rally behind them to help them fulfil their unlikely marriage and validate their love, as well as their sense of independence. As the bride's father says: "It was as though for the first time, she felt the same as everyone else."
It has been no easy ride - prohibited from a state sanctioned marriage, the betrothed must work around restrictions to arrange a libertarian marriage. On top of the usual arrangements for the ceremony and party, further logistical considerations must be made for the guests' particular needs; "who's bringing the pills?" asks one concerned resident. But after extensive preparations their dream of getting married is soon to be realised.
When two people are in love, no matter who they are, why should anyone prevent them from expressing it? This question lies at the heart of this touching and poignant documentary.
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