Dangerous Beauty
The Veronica Franco depicted in the film was a real person. She was born in 1546 and died in 1591, at the age of forty-five. She was the most famous courtesan in Italy, but she was also famous for her satire and for her poetry.,The books shown in the movie are printed on paper that is too thin and too white for 16th century. Also, the typeface is too small. Until 1843 paper was made exclusively from rags and this resulted in paper having large fibers and rough surface. Printing ink smeared on the fibers and so printers had to use large typefaces (equivalent to modern 16-18 points at least). White color of paper required and still requires copious use of sulfuric acid that was not available before industrial revolution too. It was not until late 19th century then modern quality paper, such as the one shown in the movie, was developed.,Veronica Franco: I confess that as a young girl I loved a man who would not marry me for want of a dowry. I confess I had a mother who taught me a different way of life, one I resisted at first but learned to embrace. I confess I became a courtesan, traded yearning for power, welcomed many rather than be owned by one... I confess I embraced a whore's freedom over a wife's obedience... I confess I find more ecstacy in passion than in prayer. Such passion is prayer. I confess - I confess I pray still to feel the touch of my lover's lips, his hands upon me, his arms enfolding me... . Such surrender has been mine. I confess I hunger still to be filled and enflamed. To melt into the dream of us, beyond this troubled place, to where we are not even ourselves. To know that always, always, this is mine... If this had not been mine - if I had lived any other way - a child to her husband's whim, my soul hardened from lack of touch and lack of love. I confess such endless days and nights would be a punishment far greater than you could ever mete out... You, all of you, you who hunger so for what I give but cannot bear to see that kind of power in a woman. You call God's greatest gift: our selves, our yearning, our need to love - you call it filth and sin and heresy... I repent there was no other way open to me. I do not repent my life.,Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Palmetto/Senseless/Dangerous Beauty/Mrs. Dalloway/Nil by Mouth/Live Flesh (1998),Ungaresca e saltarello
in "Artificio Scientia La Selena"
Composed by Giorgio Mainiero
Per S. Naria Della Pace,"Dangerous Beauty" is a Biography - Romance movie in which we watch a young woman becoming a courtesan without having other choice in 1583, Venice. From the start she has to fight for everything and later on she is being accused of witchcraft by the church and she has to fight for truth too.

I have to say that I did not know what to expect from this movie but it amazed me. The plot of the movie was very interesting with many good scenes and also the way that the society and also the political scenery were presented made it even more interesting. Regarding the interpretations of the cast, I believe that Catherine McCormack who played as Veronica Franco made one of her best performances if not the best, Jacqueline Bisset who played as Paola Franco was also very good and Rufus Sewell who played as Marco Venier was equally good. Lastly, I have to say that "Dangerous Beauty" is a very good movie and I strongly recommend everyone to watch it because it presents very well many truths of that time.,