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Post by kernowsqueen on Jun 18, 2012 13:12:51 GMT
Kq - I have to disagree with you re: the relationships between Marco, Veronica, and Giulia. They were all prisoners of their times - Marco loved Veronica, but could not marry her because she had no dowry and her family no political influence. Marco and Giulia wed without love on either side. Giulia knew she was sold by her father for political influence and bought by Marco's father for the money she would bring the family. While she never had Marco's love - she had his position. She was secure. Veronica's position was never as secure as Giulia's. With no dowry she had two choices, the convent or life as a courtesan. While they both depended on men for their livelihoods, Giulia as the mother of Marco's legitimate heirs held all the cards in the end. She had to be provided for - Veronica was kept only as long as it was convenient for her protectors. And this is where I have to agree with Rufus - they should have stuck with the original title, The Honest Courtesan. This was an actual title used in that time period. It denoted a woman who was more than a common tart. Veronica was as sought out for her intelligence, her conversation, and her skill as a musician and poet as she was for her beauty and sexual prowess. I can see where you're coming from in saying this movie was the reverse of the situation in T + I. Yes, we do have two people who are betraying their spouses. But Marco did his duty by Giulia, and he never hid his relationship with Veronica. Isolde, on the other hand, did not do her duty by Marke and, even worse, betrayed him with a man Marke considered a son. Thank you for these thoughtful insights! Given your comments, I will review the film. I was under the impression that Marco ignored his wife and she complained to her father in law about this - perhaps I misinterpreted the scene... I don't understand why they decided not to call it "The Honest Courtesan" ... did they think that no one would understand the word courtesan ? |
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Post by joyceinva on Jun 18, 2012 13:35:45 GMT
Marco may have ignored Giulia - but I think her main complaint was that he wasn't discreet enough in his relationship with Veronica.
From what I've read in various interviews - yeah - the film-makers thought us Americans were to stupid to know what a courtesan was. Just like Scholastic changing the title of the first Harry Potter book because we Americans were to stupid to know what the "Philosopher's Stone" was.
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Post by kernowsqueen on Jun 18, 2012 14:57:23 GMT
'Courtesan' is too obscure a word?
Honestly!
RS certainly is mind meltingly beautiful in the role ..I wonder if he is sometimes not well cast out of some sense of spite or the misplaced notion that he's just a pretty face ...
Still, no woman seemed to be in a good situation at that time - the women were either poorly educated chatel, or courtesans doomed to end up on the streets if they weren't careful about their finances and wits...I felt such pathos when Marco's sister ( doomed to a marriage to an older man - she at least had the fortitude to put a calm face on it ) approached Veronica about the possibility of her daughter becoming a courtesan...
I will certainly review this one!
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Post by midoro on Nov 25, 2013 9:55:42 GMT
As I´ve currently seen The Woodlanders, I wanted to watch something "lighter" and I enjoyed The Honest Courtesan (I think this title fits better) very much. But there were also parallels to The Woodlanders, the problem of people who love each other not coming together because of social rank or financial differences. I didn´t like Catherine McCormack that much, she didn´t seem to me to be versatile enough. That I liked Rufus is clear, and I think I´ll revise my opinion about his hair - liked his curls! That we see more of his body - wooh!  - he didn´t need a body double!  |
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Post by kygal on Nov 25, 2013 10:44:03 GMT
May have to watch this again soon!
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Post by Petruchio - Good God on Nov 27, 2013 11:29:11 GMT
Yes, I have to watch this again.... DB was the movie I have seen Rufus first time.. in german TV 1999 ... what a cutie..  |
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Post by jamolivej on Nov 27, 2013 17:19:59 GMT
This was the first Rufus film that I bought. Love it. Love the music. Watch over and over again.
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Post by jamolivej on Feb 1, 2014 23:40:22 GMT
And I've just spent this afternoon watching it yet again.! Love it. And yes, Rufus is absolutely gorgeous.
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- he didn´t need a body double! 
