House of Gucci (2021)

Plot of House of Gucci: Italy 1978. Patrizia Reggiani, daughter of the owner of a trucking firm meets Maurizio Gucci, a law student and heir to 50% of the Gucci fortune, at a party. Maurizio’s father, Rodolpho, disowns him when he and Patrizia marry. But there are other players in this drama. Aldo, Maurizio’s uncle who holds shares together with his son Paolo, and Pina a mystic who Patrizia consults. When Patrizia has a baby the event eases she and Maurizio back into the family and a dying Rodolpho rewrites his will to include Maurizio, but fails to sign it. Patrizia forges Rodolpho’s signature putting the business under Maurizio’s control, despite his lack of expertise and enthusiasm. She informs on Aldo for failing to pay tax, and he is jailed, then she convinces Paulo to sell his shares on the basis that he will become a designer with the Gucci brand despite his lack of talent. But all is to no avail when Maurizio takes up with an old flame and divorces her.

Content: There is some more or less fully clothed enthusiastic sex, and some scantily clad models on the catwalk. More or less continuous smoking and drinking. Once Patrizia meets Maurizio she schemes to capture him, and we see them later in domestic situations, before his restored to Gucci.  She consults a mystic who advises her, eventually providing her with a couple of men who are prepared to assassinate Maurizio. Once he is back in the fold Maurizio lives in some luxury, in youth cycling, later driving a Lamborghini. Eventually we see the negotiations with the finance company who becomes the major shareholder of the company. When she is caught we see her in court.

A View:  This film seems to have made some money and has been moderately well thought of by the critics. It rolls along and the actors seem to take to it with enthusiasm. I am a Ridley Scott fan, but don’t think this is quite his metier, so I did not like it all that much, except possibly Paolo’s Porsche 924. Maybe a watch while doing your knitting.

Fun Fact: It is said that Lady Gaga spent 18 months in character in preparation for the film, always speaking with an Italian accent.