When he was in his twenties, Italian film director, producer and screenwriter Luca Guadagnino (1971) once asked Tilda Swinton at a press conference whether she would act in his debut film. The film that ensued was The Protagonists (1999): a disquieting film with documentary elements about a real-life murder they were both obsessed with at that time. In relation to this film, they will reflect on the question 'how far do you go for art?'. After The Protagonists they would go on to make another three films together: Io sono l'amore (2009), A Bigger Splash (2015) and Suspiria (2018).
Guadagnino’s films are characterised by emotional complexity, eroticism and opulent visuals. Guadagnino also made a name for himself with films such as Call Me by Your Name (2017). Guadagnino’s most recent project is a film about cult author and junkie William Burroughs, Queer (2024). Guadagnino has received countless awards, including a Silver Lion (Venice Film Festival), and has been nominated for an Oscar and three BAFTAs.
Watch Super Energetic Smart Kids: Tilda Swinton and Luca Guadagnino in conversation
On 30 January, Tilda Swinton spoke with Luca Guadagnino at Eye Filmmuseum about, among other things, their intense collaborations and the question of how far one is willing to go for art.
By Eye Editors06 March 2026
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At home, you can watch films featuring Swinton, the documentary series Women Make Film, and exclusive recordings of conversations with her artistic collaborators and friends on Eye Film Player.
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