Ridley Scott’s film House of Gucci is adapted from Sara G Forden’s widely acclaimed non-fiction book The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed (2001), which examines the ascent, collapse and resurrection of the Gucci dynasty following Maurizio Gucci’s murder. It went behind the scenes of the trial to explore Reggiani’s motives for the execution-style murder, and whether she was in fact guilty.
The trial exploded like a real-life soap opera, captivating the country with scandalous tales of infidelity, extraordinary wealth, vengeance, designer footwear and a certified psychic-turned-accomplice. Reggiani was maligned by an arguably misogynistic press who dubbed her ‘Vedova Nera’, the Black Widow, and painted her as a bitter, greedy, scorned woman who acted out of revenge and spite.
House of Gucci is an American biographical crime film directed by Ridley Scott, based on the 2001 book The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by Sara Gay Forden. It stars Lady Gaga in the role of Patrizia Reggiani, who was tried and convicted of orchestrating the assassination of her ex-husband and former head of the Gucci fashion house Maurizio Gucci, portrayed by Adam Driver. It also stars Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Jack Huston, Salma Hayek, and Al Pacino.
Filming took place from February to May 2021 in various parts of Italy. House of Gucci is scheduled to be released in the United States on November 24, 2021, by United Artists Releasing.
The trial
As the sensationalised trial unfolded in 1998, it emerged that Reggiani had hired four accomplices to carry out Gucci’s murder – her former friend and psychic Pina Auriemma, who confessed to arranging the hitman; a friend of Auriemma’s who set up the hitman; the hitman; and the getaway driver.
One striking piece of evidence that was discovered at Reggiani’s home was her Cartier diary, which had a one-word entry for the day of Gucci’s murder: “Paradeisos” – the Greek word for paradise.
Reggiani was convicted of ordering his murder and sentenced to 29 years in prison. Her daughters (Alessandra, then aged 21, and Allegra, 17) had argued that her conviction be overturned, claiming her benign brain tumour had altered her behaviour and personality.
Reggiani maintained her innocence throughout, arguing that Auriemma had acted on her own and then blackmailed her. She said in a cross-examination that she was forced to pay Auriemma $365,000 (about £262,000), before adding the puzzling statement: ”It was worth every penny (via The New York Times).”
The hitman who shot Gucci was given a life sentence. Reggiani’s personal astrologer Auriemma, who first contacted the killers, was given 25 years.
House of Gucci (2021)
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Starring: Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Jack Huston, Salma Hayek, Al Pacino, Reeve Carney, Camille Cottin, Mădălina Diana Ghenea,, Mehdi Nebbou, Miloud Mourad Benamara
Screenplay by: Becky Johnston, Roberto Bentivegna
Production Design by: Arthur Max
Cinematography by: Dariusz Wolski
Film Editing by: Claire Simpson
Costume Design by: Janty Yates
Set Decoration by: Letizia Santucci
Art Direction by: Cristina Onori, Massimo Pauletto, Gianpaolo Rifino, Saverio Sammali
Music by: Harry Gregson-Williams
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: United Artists Releasing (United States), Universal Pictures (international)
Release Date: November 24, 2021
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