“House of Gucci” – only on photographs would your kin look nice [review]
Title: “House of Gucci”
Release Date: 2021
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Al Pacino, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Jack Huston, Salma Hayek
Ridley Scott’s “House of Gucci” is the story of the famous Italian clan whose name has become one of the most recognizable fashion brands in the world. The film, told through the prism of the marriage of the last of the family’s owners, Maurizio and Patrizia Reggiani, is a real treat to watch, mainly due to the excellent acting. The well-written characters neatly compensate for the script’s shortcomings, especially the trio of Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, and Al Pacino, who create an explosive mixture of passion, greed, intelligence, and cunning on screen. They alone make „House of Gucci” worth watching, because it is not only a story of betrayed feelings leading to murder, but also a tale of how family feuds can cause the downfall of a great fortune.
„House of Gucci” – a story inspired by real events
The screenplay is based on the 2001 book “House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed” by Sara Gay Forden. The publication was inspired by a true story: the murder of Maurizio Gucci, who was shot dead in Milan on March 27, 1995, on the orders of his ex-wife. And it is the story of this turbulent marriage that the film focuses on. Shy and introverted Maurizio accidentally meets a secretary who looks like Liz Taylor, Patrizia Reggiani, at a party thrown by a friend. From that moment on, the girl sets her sights on him and will not give up until she ensnares the heir to a famous Italian fortune.
Maurizio’s father, Rodolfo (Jeremy Irons), disapproves of his son’s relationship with the uneducated and inexperienced Patrizia, so she will have to overcome many obstacles. However, it soon turns out that this petite Italian girl has more energy and lust for power than many of the male members of the Gucci clan…
“House of Gucci” – a gallery of peculiar characters
For me, “House of Gucci” is above all an exquisite display of acting talent. Of course, in the case of Al Pacino as Aldo Gucci, Maurizio’s eccentric uncle, there are no surprises: he is phenomenal. He is the quintessential Italian man, in whom we find a mixture of celebration of “la dolce vita” with the fierceness of a mafia boss and a patriarchal attitude towards women. Jared Leto as his “good-for-nothing” son Paolo is also a great, memorable portrayal of a loser who, for personal ambitions far exceeding his abilities, will not even shy away from denouncing his own father.
In the foreground is the wonderful duo of Lady Gaga and Adam Driver. They are a true combination of fire and water, passion and detachment, temperament and cool reason. Lady Gaga, who has already received critical acclaim for her role in A Star Is Born, really rose to the occasion, creating an interesting and (more importantly!) multi-dimensional character. In some scenes, she arouses genuine antipathy as a money-hungry careerist, but in others, she manages to win the viewer’s sympathy as a desperate wife and mother losing the love of her life. In the case of this type of character, who is, in a sense, doomed to rejection, this is no small feat. The heroine’s image is also striking – her outfits in gold and red, chic jewelry, and expensive handbags perfectly build the predatory image of a girl who intends to take full advantage of her chance at the life she has always wanted.
Adam Driver is also a pleasant surprise, who, in my opinion, is much more believable in House of Gucci than in the highly acclaimed family drama “Marriage Story“, where he starred alongside Scarlett Johansson. From the very first scenes, when Driver appears on screen, he almost merges with the character of Maurizio Gucci. His slightly stiff demeanor, eyes hidden behind large glasses, impeccable manners, and calmness evoke genuine sympathy from the viewer. He is not the type of Peter Pan, an eternal playboy, but a man who can certainly intrigue a woman and inspire her trust. In addition, his distance from wealth and respect for family ties make us attribute only noble motives to his actions. Over time, it turns out that he too can be ruthless towards his loved ones, and Maurizio’s crystal-clear image begins to crack…
The movie “House of Gucci” – a family struggle for power
“House of Gucci” is an ingeniously woven story of family and business in one, as indicated by the title, which refers to both the fashion house and the entire clan. One could say that the old saying that family only looks good in photos rings true here. The external glitz and fame turn out to be a beautiful facade, behind which lie the most mundane instincts of the struggle for power and succession. In this respect, the Guccis are no different from other mortals, as Aldo constantly reminds his relatives. The moment they believe in their own greatness may prove fatal…
And the fight is indeed ruthless, with everyone losing without exception, even those who think they can outsmart the rest. Lawyers say that large family fortunes are usually lost in three generations: the first makes the money, the second spends it, and the third has to go back to work. The story of “House of Gucci” more or less coincides with this saying.
“House of Gucci” – a colorful fresco from the 1970s and 1980s.
It should be emphasized that “House of Gucci” is undoubtedly a visual and musical delight. The colorful, original fashion of the 1970s and 1980s—both on the catwalks, in salons, and on the streets—adorns the film and evokes nostalgia for a bygone colorful era. The musical commentary in the form of big hits from those years, such as songs by David Bowie, George Michael, and Donna Summer, contributes to the atmosphere and builds the film’s changing mood. What’s more, these songs are intertwined with opera music performed by Luciano Pavarotti. This combination perfectly captures the film’s half-solemn, half-satirical tone, as does the soundtrack composed by Harry Gregson-Williams. “House of Gucci” tells the story of a clan that balances between its own smallness and greatness, and which created a unique brand. As Maurizio prophetically says in the film in a conversation with Anna Wintour from Vogue, “Where Ralph Lauren stores, they feel like movie sets and Versace is a rock concert, Gucci stores will feel like the Vatican of fashion”.