Dangerous Beauty - Film Review

Catherine McCormack & Rufus Sewell who play Veronica and Marco  

http://www.armchairanglophile.com/dangerous-beauty/

A film I watched on night after uni was a great film called Dangerous Beauty; I hadn't actually intended to write about what I'd seen I in my head had planned to be eating chocolate in bed watching the film instead there I was at my desk writing notes and pausing at any long point. 

The film which is quite ...... is actually set in the same era as the Elizabethan times. This film though is set in Venice and shows Venetian society and the struggle women had back in the days where men were the hear all and end all when it came to choices and how things were.

The story basically follows the beautiful but slightly tom boyish Veronica who falls in love with her friends brother Marco. Due to differences in class Marco knows he will never be able to marry his love due to the increasingly strain his face is placing onto him about an arranged marriage. Heart broken and without marriage Veronica is given a ultimatum by her mother an ex-courtesan to either become a nun or to follow in her footsteps... I wonder which one she picks. 

  Throughout the film we follow Veronicas journey; becoming a strong women who needs no man yet is completely wanted by extremely important men. Of course Marco comes back into her life unhappily married and still devoted to her. Its only when after living the high life for a long time and the black plague hits Venice during which all the courtesans are condemned and some even tried for witchcraft.  Of course Veronica is tried for witchcraft after having such a reputation for bedding the most powerful men in Venice; Marco and Veronica announce their love for each other and the ridiculous way she had been presented by the church. 

Costume plays a bit role in the character. Veronica is noted as a 'tom boy', though very feminine and even alluring whilst in her courtesan character. In one scene she actually has a sword fight with Marco's jealous cousin (he wants her services and she denied him). Unusually she wears underneath her robe a pair of trousers, of course you wouldn't dare see Elizabeth in trousers, unless it was amour. Another scene during in which Veronica and Marco are falling in love sees Veronica matching Marco on his horse riding skills.

At the start of the film the colours worn were pale yet after success the colours intensify and Veronica is seen wearing reds (Courtesans main colour) and oranges. 

Hair was worn up and pinned, compared to the fashions of English regal hair with the tight curls and padding. Hair is down completely at the beginning of the film to show youth and virginity. When circumstances changed and hair was more kept the styles and attitude of the characters looks become more 'glamourous'

Mens costume is pretty similar within all the men. Older men do tend to wear to wear more blacks then the younger generations though all men tended to wear gold medallions and gold threads accessorising their garments.

the entire makeup of the film is pretty kept for the main character of Veronica unlike some of the other courtesans 'natural' beauty is worn with blushed cheeks and red lips. In one scene the white powder on her face is seen in the light; to make her look paler which must mean the viewing of paleness as more beautiful also continued much as the Elizabethans viewed. Being Venetian this look of course would of been harder to achieve from the Mediterranean side of the continent.

This film is extremely enlightening especially aimed in that period of time when Elizabeth herself was shown to the English and world as a great ruler. Women were started to stick up for what they believe in and the differences in male dominance and women just being wives were changing. Based on a true story this women changed her future and actually married for love, not power.

Watch!