Very few films attempt to combine bawdy comedy, historical drama, and literary homage. One exception is Virgin Territory. This film, directed by David Leland and released in 2007, attempts to make a modern film version of Giovanni Boccaccio’s 14th-century work, The Decameron. A section of the The Decameron takes place during the Black Death. The story revolves a group young Florentines and their country escapes, wherein they tell stories and indulge in romance, adventure, and in particular, their own lustful fantasies.
The Tale of Lorenzo and Pampinea
The film revolves around the characters Lorenzo de Lamberti, played by Hayden Chrstensen, and Pampinea Anastagi, played by Mischa Barton. Lorenzo is an attractive and young, adventurous character who is charming and embroiled in several romantic complications. Pampinea, on the other hand, is a wealthy merchant’s daughter. She is dealing with the abrupt death of her father with the added complication of an impending unwelcome marriage.
Pampinea’s encounter with Gerbino de la Ratta, portrayed by Tim Roth, is troublesome leading her to escape to a convent. Lorenzo, disguised as a “deaf and dumb” gardener, goes to the convent as well, which leads to mistaken identities and romantic clownery. Things get interesting as Pampinea’s betrothed, Count Dzerzhinsky, arrives in Florence, but is tricked into thinking he is marrying Pampinea and takes a shine to her friend Elissa instead.
Behind the Characters: Actors and Their Roles
Hayden Christensen is most recognised for his performance as Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels, and he brings a certain brooding charm to Lorenzo. He is in consonance with many young people as his character is one with love and the adventure of a budding romance. Mischa Barton, who became a household name with the series The O.C., imbues Pampinea with a certain versatility and spirit as stardom and personal development have brought and continue to bring considerable complexity to her life.
Tim Roth adds comedic and sinister depth to his role as Gerbino which demonstrates his versatility as an actor. While Gerbino is a more menacing character in Roth’s filmic repertoire that includes Reservoir Dogs and The Hateful Eight, he certainly still adds more complexity in Virgin Territory, which Roth describes as more morally and morally more complicated.
Cultural and Emotional Impact of Virgin Territory
Despite its shortcomings, Virgin Territory provides an interesting lens to examine the intersections of modern and historical narratives in story-telling. The film’s placement of the Black Death offers an examination of the complex intersections of love, betrayal, and the human condition. While the characters and the plt of the film may be extraordinarily for comic relief, the characters and their relationships nonetheless celebrates the survival of human remaining a strong and a motivating force throughout history.
Specifically in the Indian context, the film’s examination of personal agency, familial imposition, and unhappy marriages harmonizes with the cultural conditions of most audiences. The blend of the history with the modern provides an opportunity for audiences for the modern to the feelings of the history.
Behind the Scenes: Crafting the Film
To create the film’s historical setting we filmed in beautiful Florence, Siena, and Rome, Italy. Specifically, we were able to use the production design of Jim Clay that magnificently illustrates the 14th century Italy’s opulence and decay production design that 14th century Italy ambience in decay and opulence transporting the viewers into 14th century Italy.
Great 14th century fashions and costumes were made by Lucy Bevan, which instruments the characters in the film with social status and Europeans 14th centuries Italian decay and opulence.
A Modern Take on an Ancient Tale
Taking Boccaccio’s Virgin Territory sends to modern audiences the important themes on classic novels, the production beautifully incorporates modern humour with the characters of Boccaccio, making the production interesting to a modern audience. The characters were beautifully acted by the performers in a touch that frames and challenges the modern perspective of the audience.
While Virgin Territory may not be recognized universally, it is still a remarkable endeavor to reinterpret a classic story for contemporary viewers. The combination of a historical background, modern wit, and engaging performances encourages an examination of the myriad facets of romance, self and a twittering society. Every adaptation serves to highlight how universal and flexible a story is, and the multiplicity of ways in which it can be expressed.