House of Gucci, the upcoming movie about the Gucci family has been stirring controversy for quite some time – even though its premiere is scheduled for November 2021. What role will we see Lady Gaga in? And why isn't the film liked by the Gucci family themselves? Find out interesting facts about the production!
Are you a fan of the Gucci family's crazy designs and projects? The movie about this Italian family will certainly interest you, especially since it focuses on a criminal plot. The main character of the movie is Patrizia Reggiani (formerly Gucci) – the wife of Maurizio, one of the heirs to the fortune that his grandfather Guccio Gucci made on leather goods alone. His legacy was taken over by Rodolfo (his father), who, retiring from his professional life, divided the company exclusively among his sons, including Maurizio, leaving nothing to his daughters.
Patrizia and Maurizio got married in 1973 and had two daughters: Allegra and Alessandra. Before the wedding, Maurizio's father warned him about Patrizia, whom he had a very low opinion of. To the senior, she was a ruthless career woman who intended to make her fortune off his son and the rest of the family. Maurizio, however, did not heed the advice and ignored the gossip.
Lady Gaga, Gucci, big money, greed, and murder wrapped in – sounds like a recipe for box office success. Especially since the film is directed by Ridley Scott, the director of such hits as Blade Runner, Gladiator, and The Martian. If you want to learn more about the whole story, you can listen to the True Crime podcast.
More crime podcasts are recommended in the article "True Crime Podcasts. Why do we love stories about crime?". Meanwhile, while waiting for the hot premiere, discover 5 interesting facts about the autumn premiere of House of Gucci.
Lady Gaga's Black Character - House of Gucci through Patrizia's eyes
Initially, Angelina Jolie, Penelope Cruz, Natalie Portman, even Marion Cotillard or Anne Hathaway were considered for the role of Patrizia. Ultimately, the role of the direct, feisty, cunning manipulator Patrizia went to Lady Gaga. However, the idea of casting her in the lead role did not suit Gucci or Patrizia herself.
Reggiani commented on this in an interview for the Italian press agency ANSA:
"I'm a bit annoyed that Lady Gaga will play in Ridley Scott's new movie. It's a pity she wasn't polite enough to arrange a meeting with me as part of her preparations. This is not about money, because I don't intend to take a cent from this movie. It's about common sense and respect. Any good actor should, if possible, meet and talk to the character they are playing".
Patrizia Reggiani's New Life
In 2014, Patrizia started a social reintegration program, preparing her for an earlier, conditional release from prison. The program required her to take up a job (which she initially laughed at) and participate in volunteering. Reggiani was hired as a consultant for jewelry projects by the Milan brand Bozart.
In the same year, she also confessed to La Repubblica newspaper that she hopes to return to the company. "They need me," she said. "I still feel like a Gucci - in fact, the most Gucci of them all."
Murder in House of Gucci - a chain of intermediaries
Going back to 1995 and the reasons why Reggiani ended up in prison, it all started with a porter and... a fortuneteller. Patrizia's former friend and medium, Giuseppina "Pina" Auriemma (played by Salma Hayek), helped her plan the hit on her husband. According to Italian investigators, she used her connections and through a hotel porter she organized a shooter who got rid of Maurizio, as well as a getaway driver after the murder.
After the plan was executed, Patrizia began to delay the money transfer to Pina. Pina, in turn, started to blackmail her, threatening to reveal the truth to the authorities. In exchange for silence, she demanded 600,000 liras (375,000 euros).
When asked by a journalist why she didn't do the commissioned "work" herself, Patrizia replied that she had poor eyesight and didn't want to miss.
Maurizio and Patrizia's marriage had a strong pillar – money. Despite growing misunderstandings, they did not formally separate until 1991. Their relationship did not officially end until Maurizio left the house in 1985, telling Patrizia that he was going on a short business trip and did not return home for 6 years. He then moved in with his mistress. One of the recorded phone conversations with Reggiani's threats towards her husband can be heard on YouTube (unfortunately, only in the original) – at the beginning of the video material.
Reggiani, humiliated in private, also disliked the business operations of her husband. In 1983, he inherited the entire company from his father Rodolfo, then sold 47.8% of the shares to the Bahraini company Investcorp, leaving Maurizio with 50% as chairman.
His shares, however, were taken over by the Italian government, and he was sued by Aldo, one of his father's brothers. He accused Maurizio of forging Rodolfo's signature in order to take control of the company. Maurizio, realizing plan B of not being able to keep the company for himself, sold the rest of the shares to Investcorp, which Patrizia, more accustomed to multiplying rather than selling off assets, took badly.
Secondary characters - Polish cinematographer and costume designer
Gaga, the performer of Reggiani's role, has recently been more active in the film industry than in music. If you love Lady Gaga, House of Gucci will be a great opportunity to see her acting development, and also to see some great 80's outfits. They were designed by Janty Yates, who won an Oscar for the best costumes for Gladiator. After the publication on social media of Gaga's "mountain" styling in a black turtleneck, gold jewelry and a Cossack fur hat, the internet was buzzing.
The cinematographer for the film is Dariusz Wolski – a Polish cinematographer who participated in, among others, the shooting of Pirates of the Caribbean and also shot footage for The Martian.
The whole matter seems very complicated due to the number of characters. Want to delve deeper and learn more about the Gucci family? Ridley Scott's film was preceded by a book of the same title by Sara Gay Forden (House of Gucci. The power of fashion, the madness of money, the bitterness of the fall). It was published in spite of the criticism of the family itself. It will be a great introduction to Ridley Scott's work.
The life and history of the Gucci family seem far from the Italian Dolce Vita. In an interview for IndieWire portal, Dariusz Wolski described the film as a somewhat kitsch, funny, yet tragic soap opera. Sounds intriguing? Reserve the evening of November 24 to watch this extraordinary premiere!
