This might be one of the only pro-prostitution films ever made. It’s also very, very smart and well crafted. Based on the writings of real life courtesan Veronica Franco, the film takes place in 16th century Venice where woman were kept ignorant and bargained off by their fathers as part of business deals.
Poor Veronica (Catherine McCormack, SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE) is in love with rich boy Marco Venier (Rufus Sewell, DARK CITY), but he knows they can’t be married. Veronica’s mother Paola (Jacqueline Bisset, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS) then teaches her the ways of the courtesan like she and her mother did. A courtesan in those times was allowed to be educated and moved in circles where rich men’s wives did not go. In contrast to Veronica’s life of freedom, her friend Beatrice (Moira Kelly, CUTTING EDGE) is married off to a wealthy, but ancient man. Marco is forced to marry prudish Guila De Lezze (Naomi Watts, MULHOLLAND DR.), which emboldens Veronica to embrace her lot in life and make the best of it.
She challenges Marco’s cousin Maffio (Oliver Platt, DIGGSTOWN) to poetry battles, which lead to Veronica publishing a book, which makes Maffio irate. Her intelligence, beauty and grace win over the powerful men of Venice, making her the top woman in her profession. The film shows the power the courtesan’s had, but doesn’t fail to show the dark side. Veronica tells Beatrice — “My cage might seem bigger, but it is still a cage.”
Bojan Bazelli's cinematography is exquisite. Jeannine Dominy's adaptation of Margaret Rosenthal's book provides dialogue that is often witty and fun. The performances are solid across the board. McCormack has never been better. She captures all multiple facets of the strong female character well. She's sexy and smart. Sewell brings the right torn feelings between his passion for Veronica and his acceptance of his duty to his societal standing. Platt perfectly plays the failed hedonistic poet who finds power in religion for all the wrong reasons.
Once the plague arrives as well as the Spanish Inquisition, the time of the courtesan comes to an end. The courtesans quickly turned from the jewels of Venice to its scapegoat for sin. The film presents its point very well that you can’t damn a sinner when society leaves no other options. A truly enchanting and intelligent film that presents a message in a natural and honest way.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
