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House of Gucci – Desire Destroys a Family

December 5, 2021 by Darrel Manson Leave a Comment

“And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him.” (Gen. 4:8 NRSV)

It is worth remembering that humankind’s first murder was a family affair. Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci is the newest way of telling the story of a family that destroys itself because of the greed, ambition, and hubris of its members. Certainly, that concept has fueled storytelling for eons. We think of the TV shows like Dallas and Dynasty, and currently HBO’s Succession. But House of Gucci is “inspired by the true events”. This is a real life version of that age old story.

Adam Driver stars as Maurizio Gucci and Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani in Ridley Scott’s HOUSE OF GUCCI A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film Photo credit: Fabio Lovino © 2021 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The film’s center is Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga), a young working-class woman. Her father owns a small trucking company. At a party one night, she meets Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver), the introverted scion of the fashion dynasty. When she hears his last name, her eyes light up, and we can tell she wants in. She works her way into Maurizio’s life and heart. His father Rudolfo (Jeremy Irons) thinks she’s nothing but a gold digger. He’s not far off, but there is more to it than that. When Rudolfo cuts off Maurizio’s money, Maurizio goes to work for Patrizia’s father until they marry, living a simple working-class life.

But Maurizio’s uncle Aldo (Al Pacino) connects to them, and the lira-sign lights in Patrizia’s eyes go off again. Aldo is the business brains of Gucci. He wants to expand. Rudolfo lives in the past and doesn’t want to change anything. Aldo’s son Paulo (Jered Leto, who steals every scene he’s in) wants to be a designer but is talentless. Aldo calls him an idiot, “but he’s my idiot”. He sees Maurizio as the future of the family business. Between Aldo and Patrizia, plans are made to bring Maurizio into the business. Now the conniving and manipulations can begin. Patrizia seems to always be at the center of it all. It is her ambition that drives the story—and in the process destroys the family.

(l-r.) Jared Leto stars as Paolo Gucci, Florence Andrews as Jenny Gucci, Adam Driver as Maurizio Gucci, Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani and Al Pacino as Aldo Gucci in Ridley Scott’s HOUSE OF GUCCI A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film Photo credit: Courtesy of Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures Inc. © 2021 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The story covers the period of the late 70s to the 90s. Along the way we watch as fashion changes. This is a world of extravagance, and Patrizia especially shows it to the world. In time Maurizio will also be drawn into this world of ostentation, just as he’s drawn into Patrizia’s ambition and cunning.

There is an interesting use of music in the film. Some of the time, the music is the popular music of the day. That feeds our nostalgia. But often we hear operatic music driving the scenes. The music reminds us that this is that thrives in the world of tabloids and people’s fascination with the rich and famous, but it is also a story of epic proportions that tells of the elemental mythos of the destructive power of ambition and hubris. That mythos that goes back to the story of Cain and Abel.

Adam Driver stars as Maurizio Gucci and Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani in Ridley Scott’s HOUSE OF GUCCI A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film Photo credit: Courtesy of Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures Inc. © 2021 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Watching a movie is always something of a voyeuristic experience. That is especially the case here as we watch the rise and downfall of Patrizia and others. But we should also note that many of the desires that drive and ultimately destroy these characters often live within each of us. As it says in the story of Cain and Abel, “. . . Sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.” House of Gucci shows us the dangers in nor mastering our desires.

Al Pacino stars as Aldo Gucci and Mãdãline Ghenea as Sophia Loren in Ridley Scott’s HOUSE OF GUCCI A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film Photo credit: Courtesy of Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures Inc. © 2021 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

House of Gucci is in wide theatrical release.

Photos courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures.

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Reviews Tagged With: Adam Driver, based on a book, family drama, Fashion, Gucci, House of Gucci, inspired by true events, Lady Gaga, murder, Ridley Scott, wealth

India Sweets and Spices – And Secrets

November 19, 2021 by Darrel Manson Leave a Comment

In Geeta Malik’s India Sweets and Spices, we are put into the world of affluent Indian-American culture, with all its color and exoticness. Yet, all may not be as bright and pleasant as it would seem. The filmmaker draws on her experience of growing up in this culture to give us a comedic view that has a serious side that can be related to by us all.

Second-generation Alia (Sophia Ali) has returned to her upscale suburban New Jersey home after a year at UCLA. She has discovered a sense of independence, but her family expects her to take part in all the local Indian immigrant community social events. The film is structured around a series of parties held at people’s mini-mansions—each trying to be better than the one before. For Alia, the question keeps coming up when a wedding will be planned. On a trip to a local Indian goods store, she meets Varun (Rish Shah), the son of the storekeepers, and invites him and his parents to her family’s party.

This causes some concern with Alia’s parents (Adil Hussain and Manisha Koirala) see these shopkeepers as a lower class of people. But there is a surprise, when Varun’s mother (Deepti Gupta) recognizes Alia’s mother as a close friend from their younger years. This becomes the first secret of many that will begin to tarnish the burnished grandeur her family has strived for. What Alia will discover is that for all the ostentation on display at these parties, in reality, there are many secrets—and many sorrows—being hidden. It is only when they begin to come out, that real independence can be discovered—for everyone.

Some of the issues that come into play are women’s role in society—both past and present, adultery, and class consciousness. We learn that the wealth this community has on such open display is not the source of happiness; it is merely a mask that hides the people’s unhappiness.

That, I think, is where we all can begin to tie in to this story. The world (especially the marketing world) teaches us that if we have more and more things, if we look more beautiful, if our house is bigger, if our car is fancier, than we will achieve happiness. Biblical teachers of wisdom have frequently spoken of the impermanence of riches. (Cf., Ecclesiastes 2:1-10, Matthew 6:19-21, James 1:9-11.)

As the film plays out, we see that when the truth of the past (and present) comes out, it becomes liberating. The burden of keeping so much hidden can be set aside to allow the characters to advance to find a happiness that will not, in James’s words, wither away.

India Sweets and Spices is playing in select theaters.

Photos courtesy of SK Global Entertainment

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: immigrants, Indian-American, wealth

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