The artist is playing the role of Lady Gucci, aka Patrizia Reggiani. The filming has started and the actors have been spotted in Italy.
Fashionable, stylish, and so Italian. That’s how Lady Gaga looks in the role of Patrizia Reggiani. But, what do we know about the actual movie?
Everything we know about the movie
Ridley Scott is the director of the movie House of Gucci. The setting moves around the Peninsula. From the Alps of Valle d’Aosta to the streets of Milan. More locations include Florence, Lake Como, and Gressoney.
The book “House of Gucci” by Sara Gay inspired the film’s script.
Actor Adam Driver plays the husband, Maurizio Gucci. But the other names of this Hollywood movie are also acting giants. For example, Al Pacino plays Aldo Gucci. While Jared Leto plays Paolo Gucci and Jeremy Irons is cast as Rodolfo Gucci. And Camille Cottin has the role of Paola Franchi.
Finally, the release date is November, 24th, 2021 in the United States. House of Gucci tells the true story of a 100% Italian scandal.
The story of Patrizia Reggiani
A true story with true Hollywood giants. So, why does this story matter? Let’s start from the end. Or, the murder of Maurizio Gucci by the hand of his wife, Patrizia Reggiani. In 1995.
The main protagonists
Now, to how it all began.
Maurizio Gucci
He was born on September, 26th, 1948. He was the grandson of Guccio Gucci. Indeed, the founder of the famous fashion house. Maurizio was the son of Rodolfo. When his father died, he inherited the company. And he trie to take control of Gucci, cutting out his uncle Aldo from the inheritance.
Still, Maurizio was a big spender. In 1988, he sold almost half of the Gucci shares to the Bahraïn-based investment fund Investcorp. While he withheld 50% of the company, he didn’t stop his extravagant spending. He finally his stock in 1993, making a $170 profit.
Two years later, a hit man killed him. And, in 1998, Patrizia Reggiani was convicted of the murder for hire.
Patrizia Reggiani
She was born on born December, 2nd, 1948. And she married Maurizio in 1973. Meanwhile, she was a socialite and a high-fashion lover and representative. Twelve years after their marriage, Maurizio left her for another woman, Paola Franchi. He used the excuse of a business trip to leave -and never come back.
The divorce became official in 1991. She was to receive $500,000 as an annual alimony. Later, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor that was then removed. In 1995, she ordered the hit. The hitman shot Maurizio and an eyewitness, police officer Giuseppe Onorato, who survived the attack. But he lost the use of his arm.
The trial and sentences
Patrizia Reggiani was arrested in 1997 and she was convicted one year later. She had arranged her husband’s murder and for that she had to spend 29 years in prison. Also thanks to Onorato’s testimony. She killed Maurizio Gucci for money. In fact, a new marriage would mean cutting her of the inheritance.
Needless to say, the media loved the story. She was the “Black Widow” and her daughters went on TV, asking for the conviction to be overturned. The brain tumor made her do it, they said. A 2000 court decision reduced the sentence to 26 years. That’s when Reggiani tried to commit suicide.
She was offered to go to open prison, where inmates have freedom of movement outside, for example for work. She refused, saying “I’ve never worked in my life and I’m certainly not going to start now”.
Her early release happened in 2016 thanks to good behavior. But she wasn’t done making headlines. In fact, after her release, the Gucci estate had to pay her an annuity of $1,255,479. She was also awarded over $22 as back-payment during her years in prison. Part of this money was her right according to a prenup the couple signed in 1993. Since the daughters are managing the estate, they might appeal these decisions.
Patrizia Reggiani speaks up
In 2019, she did an interview with an Italian show. When asked about the Ridley Scott movie (which back then was only a rumor), she said she wasn’t happy because “I don’t want my daughters to relive their father’s experience.”
In the same interview, she says that her relationship with her daughters is non-existent, mainly due to the prenup and money issues. Still, she managed to get part of her inheritance and she decided to compensate both Paola Franchi (the girlfriend of Maurizio) and Giuseppe Onorato (the police officer).
In 2021, channel Discovery+ published the documentary Lady Gucci, about the story. And Reggiani spoke up, fearless. While the documentary is only available in Italian, for now, here’s a sneak peak.
“Maurizio was the only true love of my life,” Reggiani says. Still, “I didn’t think they would catch me.”
But they did catch her. And now Ridley Scott is filming a movie. Will it be a hit?
