House of Gucci: Real-Life Family Finds Ridley Scott Film Excruciatingly Upsetting
Ridley Scott’s film has been described as “extremely painful” by the real-life Gucci family:
The real-life Gucci family has regarded Ridley Scott’s film as “very distressing.” The film House of Gucci is based on the true storey of the Gucci family and their internal battles for control of their well-known fashion house. The criminal drama is Scott’s second picture of 2021, following The Last Duel, which received great reviews but was a box-office disappointment. The House of Gucci has been recognized more for its entertainment value than for the quality of its screenplay. Lady Gaga’s portrayal of lead character Patrizia Reggiani has been widely praised, with many reviewers claiming that the mega-star is deserving of a second Academy Award nomination. While asked about her approach to appearing in the film, Lady Gaga stated that she used the controversial Method acting technique, preserving her character’s accent even when she was not on set.
The real-life Gucci family claims in a statement released via Variety that Scott’s film portrays them inaccurately:
In a statement released by Variety, the real-life Gucci family claims that Scott’s film is a “very unpleasant” representation of them and an “insult to the history” of their business. The statement specifically criticizes the film’s portrayal of Patrizia Reggiani, labelling her as the “instigator of Maurizio Gucci’s murder” and condemning the film’s “indulgent tone” towards her. According to the family’s statement, they were not consulted during the film’s production. Check out the following statement, which has been translated from Italian:
The Gucci family is concerned about the premiere of the film House of Gucci because, while the work purports to present the “real tale” of the family, the suspicions expressed by the trailers and interviews aired so far have been confirmed: the film contains a narrative that is far from factual. The film’s production did not bother to consult the heirs before describing Aldo Gucci, the company’s president for 30 years, and the Gucci family members as thugs, ignorant and insensitive to the world around them, attributing to the protagonists events, a tone, and an attitude that never belonged to them. From a human standpoint, this is tremendously hurtful, and it is an affront to the heritage upon which the brand is founded today.
Even more objectionable is the reconstruction, which becomes mystifying almost to the point of paradox when it comes to implying an indulgent tone towards a woman who, after being definitively convicted of being the instigator of Maurizio Gucci’s murder, is painted not only in the film, but also in statements made by cast members, as a victim trying to survive in a masculine and macho corporate culture.
This is completely false. Furthermore, Gucci was an inclusive firm throughout its 70-year history as a family enterprise. Indeed, in the 1980s—the historical setting in which the film is set—women held various key positions, including the president of Gucci America, the Head of Global PR & Communication, and a member of Gucci America’s board of directors.
Gucci is a family that lives to honour its predecessors’ efforts, and their legacy does not deserve to be damaged in order to create a film that is not real and does not do credit to their heroes. Members of the Gucci family have the right to defend their loved ones’ names, images, and dignity.
The statement offers an intriguing, different viewpoint on the picture:
The statement offers an intriguing, alternate viewpoint on the film and will provide an explanation to fans who were curious about the reaction of the remaining Gucci family. Lady Gaga and Scott have already discussed their choice to avoid contact with the actual Gucci dynasty. Lady Gaga declined an invitation to meet with the actual Patrizia Reggiani before playing her, claiming that she did not want to “collud [e]” with her. Meanwhile, Scott dismissed prior accusations from the family that the film was profiting off their name and history, adding that “one Gucci [family member] was killed and another went to jail for tax evasion, so you can’t be talking to me about profit.” House of Gucci had a solid opening weekend for an adult drama in the post-pandemic age, and the film has been well-received by moviegoers, regardless of the Gucci family’s feelings. In the context of the larger box office, the data implies that take-ins are continuing to rise. The film’s senior director, on the other hand, isn’t taking a break to celebrate the film’s success. Scott recently acknowledged that he was involved in the production of Blade Runner and Alien TV adaptations, and admirers of Lady Gaga’s talent will be hoping that she can find her next job just as soon.
Source: Variety
