I’m definitely not a film critic but it was impossible not to write about the House of Gucci. Yes, it’s about fashion and it tells a story that is stranger than fiction. Patrizia Reggiani and Maurizio Gucci were Italy’s first celebrity power couples, but when Gucci left her, she had him murdered.
It's a gripping tale of glamour, sex, betrayal and death. Ridley Scott gathered an incredible cast to depict it in a really interesting way. In a time when brainless blockbusters are abundant, the simplicity of a story well told stands out and it’s incredibly refreshing.
"It's not an imitation, it's a becoming. And I knew that the greater challenge was going to be unbecoming." Lady Gaga [British Vogue]
The House of Gucci is captivating and Lady Gaga, who plays Mrs Gucci, has a touching and non-judgemental approach to her character. It’s not easy to relate to someone who has committed murder, it’s actually quite understandable to feel repulsed by someone like that.
Despite playing the role of someone who was labelled as ‘black widow’ by the media, Lady Gaga manages to go beyond layers of assumptions to capture the human nature of Gucci’s wife, and in so doing, we end up relating to her too. Adam Driver also gives a brilliant performance as Maurizio Gucci.
Power and obscene amounts of money have the ability to blind people and are the breeding ground of greed and conflict. We can clearly see this on the world stage and fashion is no exception. Those who are in that seemingly fortunate position end up having to look over their shoulder, often without knowing who to trust, even in their inner circle of friends and family.
The film is based on true events but is not accurate in terms of what really happened. Maurizio Gucci did end up selling his shares and divorcing Patrizia Reggiani, who rejected the proposed divorce settlement of £2.5m plus £650,000 per year, as “a mere bowl of lentils” and landed a better deal.
She had actually two daughters with Maurizio Gucci, Alessandra and Allegra, who inherited his millions, as well as the yacht and properties in New York, Saint Moritz and Milan. After her mother was released from prison in February 2017, both daughters did not want her to be granted the pension promised by their father.
But they lost the case and are forced by the Supreme Court to pay a million euros a year to their mother, despite her conviction for the murder of her husband. Over the years Alessandra and Allegra have always kept away from the spotlight, and never gave interviews.
In any case, it’s a film not a documentary, and it's really worth watching! I have to mention the amazing work of Janty Yates, the renowned British costume designer, who won an Academy Award in 2001. In the House of Gucci, costumes definitely play a starring role
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