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Muori di lei
Movie

Muori di lei

2024 • Drama

Woke Score
3
out of 10

Plot

N/A

Overall Series Review

The Italian erotic thriller "Muori di lei" (Close to Me), set during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown in Rome, presents a low overall score for 'woke' ideology, with a notable exception in the Feminism category. The film's primary conflict is a classic cinematic tale of marital infidelity, obsession, and psychological suspense, which largely bypasses the major ideological frameworks of Identity Politics, Oikophobia, LGBTQ+, and Anti-Theism. The plot centers on Luca, a frustrated male philosophy teacher, who embarks on a dangerous affair with his neighbor, Amanda, while his wife, Sara, is depicted as a "loving and courageous" doctor serving as a frontline hero during the pandemic. This strong contrast between the unfulfilled, cheating male protagonist and the competent, heroic female wife significantly aligns with the 'emasculation of males' and 'Girl Boss' dynamics, driving the score in that specific category up. However, the story remains a highly localized, interpersonal Italian drama, not a critique of Western civilization or a lecture on systemic oppression. The antagonist neighbor, Amanda, is a femme fatale/predator, which is a traditional thriller trope, and some critics have noted that the female characters fall into "indigestible stereotypes", suggesting a lack of ideological praise for the characters in some quarters. The film's themes are primarily secular and focus on desire, obsession, and personal moral failings.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics2/10

The film is an Italian production with a predominantly Italian/European cast, focused on a marital crisis, desire, and psychological thriller tropes. The core conflict is not based on race or intersectional hierarchy. The main character is flawed due to his personal failures (frustration, cheating), not his immutable characteristics, warranting a low score.

Oikophobia1/10

The setting is Rome during the 2020 lockdown, and the heroic figure in the story is the protagonist's wife, a doctor, who is actively saving lives within the 'home culture' (hospital). The conflict is domestic and personal. There is no evidence of civilizational self-hatred or demonization of Italian heritage or Western institutions.

Feminism7/10

The score is elevated due to the stark gender dynamic. Luca, the male protagonist, is a 'frustrated teacher' who cheats and is depicted as unfulfilled and morally weak. His wife, Sara, is a 'loving and courageous' doctor who is a heroic figure on the frontline of the pandemic. This creates a strong dichotomy where the male lead is emasculated and incompetent in his personal life, contrasting with the heroic, essential, and highly competent female lead. The plot's focus on infertility and infidelity also positions it against the nuclear family structure, albeit through dramatic action rather than overt lecture.

LGBTQ+1/10

The narrative centers on a classic, albeit adulterous, heterosexual love triangle that morphs into a thriller. There is no mention of alternative sexualities being centered, gender ideology, or a critique of the nuclear family from a Queer Theory perspective. The deconstruction of the family is via adultery, not sexual ideology.

Anti-Theism1/10

The film is a contemporary, secular dramatic thriller about infidelity and obsession. The moral conflict stems from personal actions (cheating, spying, possible crime), not religious or anti-religious polemics. There is no evidence of hostility toward religion or Christian characters being depicted as bigots.