House of Gucci: a story of family, decadence, and crime

Ridley Scott's film 'House of Gucci,' featuring Lady Gaga and Adam Driver, is based on one of the biggest scandals of the 1990s in Italy.

It explains what came before the assassination of Maurizio Gucci, the grandson of the prestigious label's founder.

The scandal of the Gucci family empire enrolled in the 1980s and 1990s. On March 27th, 1995, Maurizio Gucci, heir to the founder of the famous Italian fashion house, was murdered.

In the photo, Adam Driver as Maurizio Gucci in 'House of Gucci'

A murder ordered by his future ex-wife, Patrizia Reggiani, nicknamed the "Black Widow" by the Italian media.

In the photo, Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani in 'House of Gucci'

The history of Gucci is, above all, a family affair. Founded by Guccio Gucci, the luxury House was born in 1921 in Florence. When its founder died in the early 1950s, his three sons Aldo, Vasco, and Rodolfo took over the reins of the empire.

In the film, Aldo Gucci is played by Al Pacino. He would end up in jail at the age of 81.

Jared Leto plays Paolo Gucci, the cousin of Maurizio and stylist for the brand. He wouldn't live past 64, amidst marital, financial, and health problems.

A grandson of Guccio Gucci, Maurizio presided over the luxury brand after the death of his father, Rodolfo, in 1983. He became the main shareholder of Gucci but quarreled over the management of the House with his uncle, Aldo.

In 1988, Maurizio Gucci sold almost half of his shares to Investcorp, an investment fund in Bahrain. However, the group suffered heavy economic losses, so much so that Maurizio decided to sell the rest of his shares in 1993 for a large sum of money. In fact, the House no longer belongs to the founding family.

During an evening in Milan, Maurizio Gucci met Patrizia Reggiani, the daughter of a wealthy entrepreneur who had made his fortune in road transport.

Their love story was a passionate one, and, despite his father's disagreement, Maurizio married Patrizia in 1973. From their union, two daughters, Alessandra and Allegra, were born.

In the mid-1980s, Maurizio left Patrizia Reggiani for another woman, Paola Franchi. Yet, the iconic Gucci couple would officially be a couple until 1994.

Mad with rage, the ex-wife hired a hitman after the divorce. On March 27th, 1995, Maurizio Gucci was killed by four revolver shots in front of his office.

Arrested in 1997, Patrizia Reggiani was found guilty of the murder of her ex-husband during a high-profile trial in Italy. The press called her "the black widow."

The real Patrizia Reggiani spoke about the movie 'House of Gucci' in March of 2021. "I am annoyed that Lady Gaga is playing me in Ridley Scott's new film without having had the consideration and the sensitivity to come and meet me," she told an Italian press service.

Lady Gaga replied: "I did not want anything that had an opinion that would colour my thinking in any way."

During her trial, Patrizia Reggiani declared that she did not regret anything. She said she did everything to protect her daughters' inheritance.

Pictured is Patrizia Gucci, the daughter of Paolo and the author of the book 'Gucci. The true story of a successful dynasty.'

She was sentenced to 29 years in prison but obtained a reduced sentence while incarcerated. In the end, she was released from prison in October 2016. Nowadays, Patrizia Reggiani lives in central Milan and is often seen with a parrot on her shoulder.

Pictured: Patrizia Gucci with her book about the family's history

Regarding the film, Patrizia Reggiani said via the press: "They steal the identity of an entire family to make a profit, to increase the income of the Hollywood system. Our family has an identity, a private life. We can talk about anything, but there is a limit that should not be crossed."

Director Ridley Scott responded to the criticism of Maurizio Gucci's ex-wife in an interview with the BBC. "You have to remember that one Gucci was murdered and another went to jail for tax evasion so you can't be talking to me about making a profit. As soon as you do that you become part of the public domain."

While he has made excellent science fiction films like 'Alien' or 'Prometheus,' Ridley Scott is also a history buff.

We can see his passion for history with films such as '1492: Christopher Columbus' (1992), 'Gladiator' (2000), or 'The Last Duel' released this fall. With 'House of Gucci,' he tells us the story of one of the biggest scandals in the fashion world.

Here we see Scott on the set of 'House of Gucci'

The film brings together all the ingredients to become one of the biggest successes of 2021: luxury, betrayal and a breath-taking cast.

Having spent time in advertising and influenced by art and painting, particularly due to his training in Fine Arts, Ridley Scott is recognized for his pictorial style.

Photo from the House of Gucci trailer

Much like a painter, the filmmaker knows how to transcribe the essence of an atmosphere and thus create a feeling through the image.

Photo from the House of Gucci trailer

He also has a recognizable visual style through subdued photography, giving his scenes and backlighting an intimate feel. All of these elements combined with haute couture make this an aesthetically pleasing film.