The Honest Courtesan/Dangerous Beauty
October 22, 2008 –
Astute readers will of course remember my reference to this film a little while ago but to refresh your memory, here is the post.
I said I had ordered it and it duly arrived. So I find a teeny spot in my diary to settle down and watch it with a box of Hotel Chocolat’s finest, but unfortunately it is not compatible with my dvd player (I totally missed the fact that this copy was made for region 1, USA – doh!). I hate to waste things so if you are in the US, I will happily send it to you, gratis – just promise to watch and enjoy :) If not, it goes in the charity bag. I now need to buy another one for region 2, UK.
Oh and a little about the film courtesy of Amazon…
Although it was unfortunately ignored during its brief theatrical release, this sumptuously seductive production is that rarest of cinematic breeds, the (barely) respectable guilty pleasure. Combining historical fact with hysterical anachronisms of language and mannerism, it’s been tailored for maximum contemporary appeal but maintains a lush, romantic feel for its factual 16th-century tale of Venetian love, lust, and political repression. Catherine McCormack (Mel Gibson’s ill-fated bride in Braveheart) delivers a star-making performance as the “dangerous beauty” who becomes a skillful courtesan to pursue her forbidden love for a dashing Venetian senator (Rufus Sewell). It’s all rather silly in a high-toned fashion, and the film turns dour when the church intervenes with a Scarlet Letter-like papal inquest. But the movie’s joyously ribald vitality is utterly irresistible, and the casting of McCormack with Jaqueline Bisset (as her mother and courtesan mentor) is a stroke of pure genius. Merchant-Ivory would’ve made a smarter film from this material, but it probably wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining. –Jeff Shannon
Synopsis
Set in 16th Century Venice this period drama tells the story of Veronica Franco, a beautiful but penniless woman in love with the handsome and wealthy Marco Venier. Veronica’s mother educates her in the ways of a courtesan, who has the power to become educated in all things that men find interesting.
2 Responses to “The Honest Courtesan/Dangerous Beauty”
Quite a few dvd players can be made multi-region by entering a code through the remote. Try putting the model number into the search engine on this site http://www.dvdhacks.co.uk/
If that doesn’t work, tesco are claiming to sell a multi-region toshiba player for £25 at the moment.
By NB on Oct 23, 2008
Thank you! I will try that xx
By Rhia Charles on Oct 23, 2008