First Love

First Love (Italian: Primo Amore) is an Italian 2004 drama film directed by Matteo Garrone and Massimo Gaudioso, loosely based on the autobiographical novel by Marco Mariolini. The film deals with anorexia nervosa. Plot Vittorio, a Veronese goldsmith, meets Sonia through a blind date; the two begin to date and thereby to get to know each other, notwithstanding some initial doubts about the possibility of success of their relationship: Vittorio is having therapy due to his obsession with thin women up to the point of anorexia nervosa. Their relationship continues as Sonia agrees to lose weight — ignoring the man’s psychopathy — which she seemingly does as an act of love, not through her own desire. What at first seems only a benign choice turns into a nightmare for Sonia, made worse because the two have chosen to live together. Vittorio becomes increasingly suspicious of Sonia, thinking (somewhat correctly) that she eats in secret. He therefore hides the food in her house such that she can only eat salad and vegetables. Sonia becomes very thin, and begins to dislike herself. Her imprisonment becomes increasingly difficult and begins to be detrimental to her health. Due to the shared obsession with her weight, the two often find themselves in embarrassing situations in public. Furthermore, Vittorio’s business is getting worse and worse, ultimately leading to the closure of his laboratory.