MANILA, Philippines—Largely inspired by the globally-known true story behind the Italian fashion house of Gucci and based off Sara Gay Forden’s 2001 book The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour and Greed, and with a screenplay by Becky Johnston and Roberto Bentivegna, the latest Ridley Scott film House of Gucci brings together a powerhouse of iconic and talented actors and crew that charts the story of the real-life family drama set at the critical era of the famed Italian fashion empire’s history.
Scott, best known for his works in classic films such as Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator and Thelma & Louise, brings his latest work to cinemas around the globe, with a thrilling exploration of three decades in the tangled history of the multi-generational Gucci family, a tale of ambition, greed, betrayal and murder.
Adam Driver and Lady Gaga. Production still courtesy of Universal Pictures PH.
Oscar® nominees Adam Driver and Lady Gaga famously take on the roles of Maurizio Gucci and Patrizia Reggiani, along with Oscar® winners Al Pacino as Aldo Gucci, Jeremy Irons as Rodolfo Gucci and Jared Leto as Paolo Gucci while Oscar® nominee Salma Hayek plays Pina Auriemma, hogging headlines the moment the first stills of the highly-anticipated film adaptation were first shared online.
House of Gucci serves as the latest in Scott’s unforgettable lineup of films with a unique touch of visual sense meant for the big screen experience. From his classics and now, House of Gucci, call to mind indelible images in the minds of viewers. For producer Kevin Walsh, on this visual storytelling, “He hand-draws every single frame of the movie. By the time he gets to the set he’s done months of preparation and everyone knows exactly what they’re doing on any given day. The attention to detail is mind-blowing.”
Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani. Production still courtesy of Universal Pictures PH.
“It’s almost as though the cast were all different musical instruments,” says Lady Gaga, “like an orchestra – everything from the drums to the bass to the brass to the woodwinds and strings. And because we’re all so different as actors, Ridley is the one conducting a symphony of all these different orchestral elements.”
House of Gucci not only depicts the end of the Gucci family’s control over its vast fashion empire, but the waning days of privately-owned fashion labels and the onset of conglomerate control of the industry.
Production designer Arthur Max, the film is a “rollicking romp with all the sounds and looks of the period and the world in which the main characters lived and played. As the story unfolds, however, you witness how these characters interact and how off-kilter their lives become. A sad tale really, but told in a very entertaining way.”
Adam Driver, Jared Leto, and Lady Gaga. Production still courtesy of Universal Pictures PH.
The film seeks to provide the viewing public with pleasure on multiple levels, according to Walsh. He says, “I hope audiences will take away a sense of enjoyment in the artistry of this film, which allows us to appreciate the work of a great troupe of filmmakers who take their work really seriously, but also have fun in trying to create a piece of entertainment. Story wise, I think they’ll take away the moral that money isn’t everything.”
But first and foremost, says Lady Gaga, “This movie is a genuinely good time. A wild ride and every second is entertaining. Part of Ridley’s magic is that, with all his artistic ways, ultimately, he wants the audience to enjoy themselves.”
Al Pacino. Production still courtesy of Universal Pictures PH.
Watch the full trailer here:
House of Gucci opens January 19 in Philippine theaters from Universal Pictures International.