The Borgias
2011
Original language: English
- drama
- crime
The story
Set in 15th century Italy at the height of the Renaissance, The Borgias chronicles the corrupt rise of patriarch Rodrigo Borgia to the papacy, where he proceeds to commit every sin in the book to amass and retain power, influence and enormous wealth for himself and his family.
What it’s like
Candlelit interiors glow amber against deep crimson drapery, and the Vatican shimmers in gold leaf and velvet, while Roman piazzas and Tuscan hillsides arrive in bright, dusty daylight. The camera mostly settles into composed, formal frames that hold on faces across banquet tables, with restless movement reserved for crowded feasts and street unrest. Choral voices and strings swell over the palace scenes, and the palette is saturated and rich, closer to a painted altarpiece than to gritty realism. Its vibe is operatic, scheming and sumptuous, best suited to a long evening on the sofa or a rainy weekend with a glass of wine. Pacing is steady and talky, driven by whispered alliances and sudden reversals, and the tone is sly and theatrical rather than mournful. Characters shift from ambition to ruthlessness, with family loyalty tested at every turn. Intensity is high: sexual content is frequent and explicit, and poisonings, stabbings, executions and brutal cruelty appear regularly. This is not gentle viewing. It suits people who want lavish Renaissance power politics and do not mind sex and violence.
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