L'Italo-Americano

r e c r e a t e t h e s k i r e s o r t o f Saint Moritz in Switzerland where the Gucci family spent leisure time. Filming also took place in Milan, Lake Como, Florence and Rome. The House of Gucci stars L a d y G a g a a s P a t r i z i a Reggiani, "Lady Gucci," who loved her husband Maurizio against reason, peace, and happiness. T h e c a s t i s s t e l l a r a n d includes Adam Driver as Maurizio Gucci, Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons and Jared Leto. Pacino plays the role of A l d o G u c c i , M a u r i z i o ' s uncle. It was Aldo who made the brand global and created the iconic double-G Gucci logo in homage to his father G u c c i o G u c c i . O n c e President John F. Kennedy referred to Aldo as the "first Italian ambassador to the United States." The Gucci breakthrough in the US led to its global development in Asia and the Middle East. J e r e m y I r o n s p o r t r a y s Rodolfo, Maurizio's father. The upcoming biographi- cal crime film is scheduled to be released on November 24 and is based on the 2001 book The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of M u r d e r , M a d n e s s , Glamour, and Greed by S a r a G a y F o r d e n , a n A m e r i c a n j o u r n a l i s t w h o covered the Italian fashion industry from Milan for 15 years. In 1997, eighteen months after Maurizio Gucci's assas- sination, this sort of modern Greek tragedy was on its way to legal resolution. "Lady G u c c i " w a s a r r e s t e d a n d charged with murder. Love had turned into heartless- ness, hate and greed. At a long murder trial that captivated Italy in the late 1990s, she was found guilty of having hired a contract k i l l e r a f t e r d i s c o v e r i n g Maurizio had been unfaith- ful. Patrizia was also furious with him for selling the com- pany. Losing the family busi- ness was stupid and she was filled with rage. At the time, Italian media dubbed her La V e d o v a N e r a – t h e B l a c k Widow. In addition to her, four o t h e r s w e r e a r r e s t e d . Investigators believe that she hired the killer through a one-time friend called Pina A u r i e m m a . P i n a w a s a Neapolitan fortune-teller who put pressure on the hit- man to carry out the murder q u i c k l y , b e f o r e P a o l a Franchi and Gucci's wed- d i n g . P i n a t e s t i f i e d t h a t Patrizia couldn't bear the thought of another woman t a k i n g h e r p l a c e a s M r s . G u c c i – a n d w i t h i t , t h e p o w e r , s t a t u s a n d m o n e y that she "had earned." Patrizia Reggiani's lawyer tried to prove in vain that her brain surgery affected h e r p e r s o n a l i t y . S h e w a s sentenced to 29 years. On the day of the verdict, the Italian media reported that Gucci boutiques around the country hung silver hand- cuffs in their windows. At Milan's penitentiary, s h e s u r v i v e d a s u i c i d e attempt. After 18 years in prison, she was released for good behavior in 2016 and i m m e d i a t e l y t o l d L a Repubblica newspaper about her yearning to return to the world of Gucci. "They need me," she said. "I still feel like a Gucci – in fact, the most Gucci of them all." And because of an agree- m e n t s h e h a d s i g n e d t w o years before having her hus- band gunned down, by law the Gucci estate represented by their two daughters has to absurdly award her 1 mil- l i o n e u r o s p e r y e a r . B u t Alessandra and Allegra are f i g h t i n g a l e g a l b a t t l e o n that. Reggiani, now 72, tells of her extravagant existence in her own words while speak- ing directly to camera in a new documentary available for streaming on Discovery P l u s titled La d y G u c c i : T h e s t o r y o f P a t r i z i a Reggiani. In a recent interview with the Corriere della Sera news- paper, she expressed annoy- ance about Lady Gaga por- traying her "without even having the courtesy or the g o o d s e n s e t o c o m e a n d meet me. It's nothing to do with money because I won't be taking a single cent from the film. It's about respect," she remarked. "Any good actor should get to know the person they're playing." But a few days after she changed h e r m i n d : " L a d y G a g a i s alright. I will watch the film. She looks like me." F i n a l l y , t h e " B l a c k Widow" is said to be waiting for death to arrive. "Perhaps I will reincarnate, as a lady- bug, I hope." LIFE PEOPLE PLACES HERITAGE Lady Gaga and Adam Driver as Mrs. and Mr. Gucci, village of Azzano, Lake Como (Photo: Enrico Selva) Continued from page 32 THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2021 www.italoamericano.org 34 L'Italo-Americano Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani on set at Villa Balbiano, village of Tremezzina, Lake Como (Photo: Enrico Selva)

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