Another review that I loved to write. Movies that have their plot set in the medieval time are also my all time favorite and I love watching movies about how life was back then. How women dressed, how men courted. Oh, how they danced. I wish I lived in the different century. Not to escape my problems, which I probably wouldn't because I'm like a magnet for trouble (and certainly not in the good way), but to just taste a different way of life. Like a totally other lifestyle. And this movie showed everything I adore about those movies: real beauty, courting, dancing, fashion and love. What truly enchants me in these kind of movies is the credibility of the people, pluck and gestures that have long disappeared to be still carried out today. It was something magical about those times and I would give anything to get a better look or taste to it itself.
This movie in particular has showed various styles of living back then: from the rich citizens and operators of the old town of Venice, to the poor peasants and last, but not least, the luxurious lives of courtesans. The latter was one of the most prestigious ways of making a living in the 16th century for a woman. Even though that was mostly a lifestyle of women of poor birth from not so wealthy families. It wasn't considered as whoring directly, but more like a way of escorting and giving company to men (therefore offering pleasure). Though many men in the movie explicitly considered Veronica Franco, at the time the most influential and notorious courtesan, a plain whore who was later, towards the end of plague, also charged of witchcraft. Of course they had to blame someone for the aftermath of millions of dead people all over Venice. But Veronica didn't give in. We'll come to face her story through the post.
Veronica Franco was, as most of the Venice citizens, poor, but beautiful young woman right out of her puberty, willing to taste the wonderful life ahead of her. I knew from the start she was meant to be something more. You could see it in her eyes. She was ready to explore the brand new world she just entered and indeed it had some interesting plans for her in store.
The moment the courtesans came down that canal she knew they were everything she ever wanted. She suddenly knew that life was meant for her and it opened her eyes. She was overwhelmed by the way they were welcomed and accepted in the famous city, she was in love with their beauty and grace, overawed by how they control the citizens only with their hands and moves.
But something else entirely flared up her heart. Love of Marco Venier which was also mutual. He took her away by his devilish smile, audacity and his indispensable charm. But he noticed her, too. Who wouldn't notice such Venetian beauty leaning down a balcony, awestricken by the whole performance of the arrival of the courtesans and their escorts. She was too beautiful and too unique not to notice. And Marco took advantage of that situation.
Their love was in flames only a few days after that. They knew this was it, that this love was meant for them. They were born for each other. But as always in love, something came up. Something that wasn't Marco's nor Veronica's fault. Their social position, especially Marco's. Since he was the one on the higher one, he was obliged to marry a wealthy woman like himself that would suit his position. Of course, that was devastating news for young Veronica, who didn't understand and especially obey those rules. Because there are no rules in love. What I was so struck by in this movie is that it showed very explicitly and realistic how love "worked" back then. How things were carried out and what marriage actually meant. It meant a deal of money, not a deal of love as Veronica always thought. It was a harsh representation of what loving someone "out of your league" meant and that it actually happened, since this movie was based on true story.
But this obstacle was not meant to stop Veronica and her love of Marco. In fact, it only made her more ambitious, courageous and daring more than ever. Of course, she had a little bit of help with all the preps, but the outcome was worth its waiting.
Marco's and Veronica's love was no secret, at least not to their closest ones. But they couldn't marry each other and bind their love forever, so they had to figure out a new way of life. While Marco has been introduced and acquainted to his possible future brides, Veronica has been introduced to an entirely new way of lifestyle. The one she was so overwhelmed with on that balcony. A courtesan life.
To her surprise, Veronica was introduced to that life by her mother herself. And how could she possibly know anything about courtesans that she despised and while she wanted Veronica to have decent and suitable, happy life? Because her mother was one of the best courtesans in the town. And the preps had begun. Young Veronica was introduced to the life of pleasure, seducing, passion and luxury. It was like her mother had lived her youth all over again. I guess we could say that the genes of her mother passed very well on the daughter, because she soon became the most valuable, noticeable and notorious courtesans that had ever came to Venice.
Of course, while she had blossomed into a beautiful woman with masters in charm and seduction, her love never died. Marco also noticed Veronica's change. Well, almost whole Venice did. Including the French king. But not all approved her lifestyle. The evil tongues started to swing and say dirty things about the gorgeous woman. But that didn't stop her until the plague came into town. Plague was the death of courtesans and their peak of fame. Since there were so many deaths all over the town, they had to blame someone. And the whores were a perfect scapegoat. Who wouldn't believe the priests when they started accusing courtesans of selling love and death to men and cursed the city? All the powerful men they sold love to were nowhere to be seen now. They were alone and left to themselves to die shamefully and degrading.
Veronica couldn't escape it all as well. Some unimportant whores were publicly hanged, others were sent to the court, in front of the eyes of God, where they were at the mercy of the same men they pleasured. Veronica's trial was showed in the movie where she was accused of witchcraft and bewitching the whole town with her "magic". But she didn't give in. She wouldn't give away what they wanted and kept defending herself, even if that meant dooming herself to death itself. Marco was also present at the trial and couldn't stand watching Veronica throwing herself away like that. He couldn't lose her. At the end all went well, since all the men she slept with (at least those present at the trial) stood up and sided with Veronica. Thankfully, she was free of all charges, but courtesans were banned for good. Her and Marco remained lovers for the rest of their lives.
What I loved so much in that movie how no matter what power men held in this town, no matter how much they could degrade women if they weren't as powerful as them, Veronica still fought for the justice she deserved. She couldn't understand the cruel world she was born into, but if she was going to die at the stake, she would let all the men in that courtroom know what unfair pigs they are. She made them realize that pretty soon, but what was interesting that she didn't even insult them. All she did was tell the truth and the men knew how ashamed they were of themselves at that moment. And Veronica counted on that weakness. After all, it was her job knowing men all too well.
I realized women had a hard time surviving in that time if they were not noble-born. They had to fight for their rights, their survival. It was far from easy, but Veronica, even though she was born poor, made a difference at the very source of the overcoming men power. She believed in herself, she knew herself and the men around her and she knew exactly what she had to do. But from what I've seen in the movie, I got a feeling that it still wasn't that simple for her. Well of course not if there's a smoking stake ready for you right out the door. I did sense she kept her grace and dignity she was born with, but this time her life was at risk and I knew from the start there will be nothing holding her back from getting what she deserved from the start.
This movie in particular has showed various styles of living back then: from the rich citizens and operators of the old town of Venice, to the poor peasants and last, but not least, the luxurious lives of courtesans. The latter was one of the most prestigious ways of making a living in the 16th century for a woman. Even though that was mostly a lifestyle of women of poor birth from not so wealthy families. It wasn't considered as whoring directly, but more like a way of escorting and giving company to men (therefore offering pleasure). Though many men in the movie explicitly considered Veronica Franco, at the time the most influential and notorious courtesan, a plain whore who was later, towards the end of plague, also charged of witchcraft. Of course they had to blame someone for the aftermath of millions of dead people all over Venice. But Veronica didn't give in. We'll come to face her story through the post.
Veronica Franco was, as most of the Venice citizens, poor, but beautiful young woman right out of her puberty, willing to taste the wonderful life ahead of her. I knew from the start she was meant to be something more. You could see it in her eyes. She was ready to explore the brand new world she just entered and indeed it had some interesting plans for her in store.
The moment the courtesans came down that canal she knew they were everything she ever wanted. She suddenly knew that life was meant for her and it opened her eyes. She was overwhelmed by the way they were welcomed and accepted in the famous city, she was in love with their beauty and grace, overawed by how they control the citizens only with their hands and moves.
But something else entirely flared up her heart. Love of Marco Venier which was also mutual. He took her away by his devilish smile, audacity and his indispensable charm. But he noticed her, too. Who wouldn't notice such Venetian beauty leaning down a balcony, awestricken by the whole performance of the arrival of the courtesans and their escorts. She was too beautiful and too unique not to notice. And Marco took advantage of that situation.
 |
| via: http://revisitingthemovies.blogspot.com/ |
But this obstacle was not meant to stop Veronica and her love of Marco. In fact, it only made her more ambitious, courageous and daring more than ever. Of course, she had a little bit of help with all the preps, but the outcome was worth its waiting.
Marco's and Veronica's love was no secret, at least not to their closest ones. But they couldn't marry each other and bind their love forever, so they had to figure out a new way of life. While Marco has been introduced and acquainted to his possible future brides, Veronica has been introduced to an entirely new way of lifestyle. The one she was so overwhelmed with on that balcony. A courtesan life.
To her surprise, Veronica was introduced to that life by her mother herself. And how could she possibly know anything about courtesans that she despised and while she wanted Veronica to have decent and suitable, happy life? Because her mother was one of the best courtesans in the town. And the preps had begun. Young Veronica was introduced to the life of pleasure, seducing, passion and luxury. It was like her mother had lived her youth all over again. I guess we could say that the genes of her mother passed very well on the daughter, because she soon became the most valuable, noticeable and notorious courtesans that had ever came to Venice.
Of course, while she had blossomed into a beautiful woman with masters in charm and seduction, her love never died. Marco also noticed Veronica's change. Well, almost whole Venice did. Including the French king. But not all approved her lifestyle. The evil tongues started to swing and say dirty things about the gorgeous woman. But that didn't stop her until the plague came into town. Plague was the death of courtesans and their peak of fame. Since there were so many deaths all over the town, they had to blame someone. And the whores were a perfect scapegoat. Who wouldn't believe the priests when they started accusing courtesans of selling love and death to men and cursed the city? All the powerful men they sold love to were nowhere to be seen now. They were alone and left to themselves to die shamefully and degrading.
Veronica couldn't escape it all as well. Some unimportant whores were publicly hanged, others were sent to the court, in front of the eyes of God, where they were at the mercy of the same men they pleasured. Veronica's trial was showed in the movie where she was accused of witchcraft and bewitching the whole town with her "magic". But she didn't give in. She wouldn't give away what they wanted and kept defending herself, even if that meant dooming herself to death itself. Marco was also present at the trial and couldn't stand watching Veronica throwing herself away like that. He couldn't lose her. At the end all went well, since all the men she slept with (at least those present at the trial) stood up and sided with Veronica. Thankfully, she was free of all charges, but courtesans were banned for good. Her and Marco remained lovers for the rest of their lives.
What I loved so much in that movie how no matter what power men held in this town, no matter how much they could degrade women if they weren't as powerful as them, Veronica still fought for the justice she deserved. She couldn't understand the cruel world she was born into, but if she was going to die at the stake, she would let all the men in that courtroom know what unfair pigs they are. She made them realize that pretty soon, but what was interesting that she didn't even insult them. All she did was tell the truth and the men knew how ashamed they were of themselves at that moment. And Veronica counted on that weakness. After all, it was her job knowing men all too well.
I realized women had a hard time surviving in that time if they were not noble-born. They had to fight for their rights, their survival. It was far from easy, but Veronica, even though she was born poor, made a difference at the very source of the overcoming men power. She believed in herself, she knew herself and the men around her and she knew exactly what she had to do. But from what I've seen in the movie, I got a feeling that it still wasn't that simple for her. Well of course not if there's a smoking stake ready for you right out the door. I did sense she kept her grace and dignity she was born with, but this time her life was at risk and I knew from the start there will be nothing holding her back from getting what she deserved from the start.
Komentarji
Objavite komentar