THE KING’S WHORE (AXEL CORTI, 1990): STORIA MODERNA E TRAGEDIA ANTICA NELLA CORTE SABAUDA

Abstract

An ‘ancien régime’ tragedy: The King’s Whore (Axel Corti, 1990)
This contribution aims at analysing the film The King’s Whore (AxelCorti, 1990). Firstly, the author discusses the quantity and the varietyof films set in the early modern period; afterwards she devotes attentionto the plot of The King’s Whore and to the existence of differentversions of this film. The author investigates also the actual story in theDuchy of Savoy at the end of the XVII century. Specific attention isdedicated to the scenic and pictorial values of the movie, particularlyto the baroque setting and to the symbolic message of one painting.Some choices are very successful in enhancing the plot, such as thedisquieting masquerade ball, the peculiar function of the mirrors andthe special role attributed to the courtiers. However, it is the dramaticswitch of the narrative which elevates this movie and deserves considerationand a careful analysis, in particular from classical scholars.Credit has to be given to the screenwriter Frederic Raphael for a cleveruse of the Greek tragedy as a powerful tool to resolve and concludethe story.
m.domitillacampanile@tiscali.it