Based on Sara Gay Forden’s 2001 crime novel, “The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed”, the movie spans over three decades wrought with love, betrayal, decadence, revenge, and culminating in murder. The film is set in 1995 and depicts the events and aftermath of the murder of Maurizio Gucci, the head of the luxury fashion house Gucci by his ex-wife, PatriziaReggiani.
The film has gotten audiences across the globe excited, especially after the trailer dropped. The movie boasts of the most star-studded cast in a long time. Besides Lady Gaga and Adam Driver, whoare playing the lead roles, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Salma Hayek, Jack Huston, Reeve Carney, Al Pacino are also part of this magnum opus. The suspense to get a glimpse into this Florentine luxury brand’s sinister past is mounting.
The True Story
Let’s unravel the real-life mystery surrounding the story behind director Ridley Scott’s new crime drama. The movie follows the story of PatriziaRagiiani, who was convicted for arranging the assassination of her ex-husband, Maurizio Gucci.
PatriziaReggiani and Maurizo Gucci got married in 1973. They had met for the first time at a party in Milan. He was then the heir to the Gucci fashion empire and she was a famed Italian socialite and fashion’s “it girl. But Maurizio’s father, Rodolfo Gucci disapproved of the marriage from the start.
According to Forden’s book, he had written to Maurizio even before the wedding asking him to beware of “the girl” – she was not the right girl for him because she only knew money. Patrizia became Maurizio’s chief advisor, pushing him to make a name for himself in the company established by his grandfather. The two even had two daughters – Alexandra and Allegra. It is said that Rolfo softened somewhat after their birth.
Rodolfo passed awa in 1983. After this Maurizio acquired the majority shares of the fashion house and became the wealthiest man in the country. However, contrary to his professional life, things were not so good in his personal life. He is alleged to have gone on a business trip in 1985, but then never came back to Patrizia.
He had left her for a younger woman, Paola Franchi, twelve years after their marriage. The divorce proceedings took over six years, during which Patrizia was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He moved in with his new girlfriend in 1990 and had continued to live with her till his death – i.e. his murder.
Maurizio Gucci was shot dead outside his workplace, the Via Festa del Perdaano on 27th March 1995. He was shot multiple times. Patrizia was the prime suspect, but she denied any wrongdoings. She was not arrested for another two years following the tragedy. She was branded as the “Black Widow” by the press.
The high-profile trial of PatriziaReggiani started in 1998, and throughout the proceedings, she maintained her stand – she was innocent and was being framed. It was revealed over time that Reggiani had hired four accomplices to carry out the murder. One of these even included a psychic.
At a point in the case, she even pleaded mental instability owing to her brain surgery in 1992, concluding that she was incapable of plotting a murder. Despite all that, she was found guilty and sentenced to 29 years of imprisonment, which was later reduced to 26 years after appeal. He was, however, released after 18 years on grounds of good behavior in October 2016.
She then went on to work for a costume jewelry brand as a consultant. Ou can spot her in affluent Milan with her very iconic pet macaw perched on her shoulder. She is legally entitled to 1 million euros a year, according to a contract signed by Maurizio a couple of years before his death, along with back payments from her time in prison.
What however remains unconfirmed is her apparent motive for the crime. Maurizio hadn’t been spending too well, incurring repeated losses. So much so that he had to sell his company in 1993. Patrizia told The Guardian in 2016 that she was outraged at Maurizio’s failure. She was angry at him for a lot of reasons, but the most for selling the company. However, there was nothing that she could have done.
Or could she?