By: Karen Alassaf
The Gucci Family is upset about how their ancestors are shown in the new film: “House of Gucci” by the family statement, when released, they stated the story is “far from factual” and the producers did not contact them at all.
The story of “House of Gucci” extends beyond the headlines of the 1995 murder and subsequent trial. Based on Sarah Gay Forden’s novel, it begins in the late 1970s and follows Reggiani (Lady Gaga) and heir Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver) through courtship, marriage, separation, and his murder. Reggiani is portrayed in the storey as a Lady Macbeth-type who assisted Maurizio in rising to power and taking over the company from his uncle Aldo Gucci (Al Pacino) and cousin Paolo Gucci (Jared Leto).
The Guccis, who have no association anymore with the global luxury brand bearing their name, have been concerned about the Ridley Scott film from the beginning. Now that it’s out, they’re taking issue with specifics, including the idea that Patrizia Reggiani, who was convicted and imprisoned for hiring a hitman to kill Maurizio Gucci, is depicted as a victim in a male-dominated company.
The Gucci family has not been involved with the Gucci fashion house since 1993, when Maurizio sold his remaining stake to the Bahrain-based company, Investcorp. It was later bought by the French group PPR, which is now Kering.
Pic of the the “House Of Gucci” poster
“The film’s production did not bother to consult the heirs before describing Aldo Gucci, the company’s president for 30 years, and the members of the Gucci family as thugs who were ignorant and insensitive to the world around them, attributing entirely fabricated attitudes and conduct to the protagonists of the notorious events,” the Gucci family said.
They also said added that they reserve the right to “take any action necessary to protect their name, image, and dignity, as well as the names, images, and dignity of their loved ones.”
Scott has previously defended himself and his film against the Guccis’ criticisms, including Patrizia Gucci’s remark to The Associated Press that they were “stealing the identity of a family for profit.”
Patrizia Gucci is the daughter of Paolo Gucci and granddaughter of Aldo Gucci.
“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,” Scott said last week in an interview with BBC Radio. “As soon as you do that, you become part of the public domain.
The family isn’t the only one close to the storey who has an opinion on the filmmaking. Tom Ford, who was the creative director of Gucci from 1994 to 2004 and is depicted in the film, wrote a piece for Air Mail in which he likened the experience to living through a hurricane.
Ford continued: “It’s difficult for me to separate reality from the glossy, heavily lacquered soap opera that I saw on screen,” Ford wrote. “As with most films based on true stories, facts are changed, characters are exaggerated, and timelines are distorted and, at the end, who cares as long as the result is a great film?”
Ford continued: I was deeply sad for several days after watching `House of Gucci,’ a reaction that I think only those of us who knew the players and the play will feel. It was hard for me to see the humour and camp in something that was so bloody. In real life, none of it was camp. It was at times absurd, but ultimately it was tragic.”
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