The main character of the film is named Veronica Franco. I'm not sure what movie the other person was watching that they thought her name was Katherine. The actress' name is Catherine McCormack though. Anyway, Veronica Franco was a 16th century Venetian courtesan and a published poet. That was quite a feat in her day considering society thought (and still does today to some extent) that the role of women were to be wives and mothers and nothing more. They did not receive education outside of the Bible.
Courtesans were an exception. Because they were companions of educated men, whether in Venice or not, they had to be educated as well. Courtesans always had a field in which they excelled outside of sex, be it philosophy, literature, history, etc. Before I saw this movie, I had the same ignorant assumption that courtesans were just higher priced streetwalkers, but they weren't. These women were brazen and they had to be to do what they did for a living. They dared to enjoy sex in a time when women weren't supposed to and spoke out when women were supposed to be silent.
After seeing Dangerous Beauty, I decided to look up Veronica Franco and the histories of courtesans in general. I would ask that everyone do that instead of going on ill-informed and prejudiced views. The movie does leave out a great deal about Veronica's life, but it's a fair summary. Scenery is gorgeous as is the costuming. The acting is wonderful. What is unfortunate, if you look closely at society and consider how you react to things of a sexual nature, not much has changed from those times.
Courtesans were an exception. Because they were companions of educated men, whether in Venice or not, they had to be educated as well. Courtesans always had a field in which they excelled outside of sex, be it philosophy, literature, history, etc. Before I saw this movie, I had the same ignorant assumption that courtesans were just higher priced streetwalkers, but they weren't. These women were brazen and they had to be to do what they did for a living. They dared to enjoy sex in a time when women weren't supposed to and spoke out when women were supposed to be silent.
After seeing Dangerous Beauty, I decided to look up Veronica Franco and the histories of courtesans in general. I would ask that everyone do that instead of going on ill-informed and prejudiced views. The movie does leave out a great deal about Veronica's life, but it's a fair summary. Scenery is gorgeous as is the costuming. The acting is wonderful. What is unfortunate, if you look closely at society and consider how you react to things of a sexual nature, not much has changed from those times.