Virgin Territory, a romantic comedy-adventure film released in 2007, is a crude adaptation of a decameron, a 14-century work by Italian writer Giovanni Boccaccio. Directed by David Leland and produced by legendary filmmaker Dino De Laurentiis, the film attempts to fuse historical narratives with a raunchy teen comedy sensibility. It was marketed as “American Pie” meets “A Knight’s Tale.” Strip away the crass elements and “Virgin Territory” is a peculiar attempt to adapt medieval literature for modern audiences.
The film still maintains a lavish production value, includes an attractive cast, and claims to be based on a rich in satirical source, but the film was released by DVD in most regions. Even today, it is wrought with controversy for being far too sexualized in depicting the medieval era and lacking either authenticity or value in history and literature.
Synopsis
Set in 14th-century Florence, during the outbreak of the Black Plague, Virgin Territory follows the exploits of a band of young Florentines who attempt to escape the devastation of the city alongside their chaotic romantic endeavors.
Pampinea is the noblewoman heir to an estate but also a beautiful woman trying to withhold greedy suitors and thugs. Facing her is Lorenzo, an incredibly charming yet roguish young man who is constantly getting himself into situations filled with trouble due to his mischief and lustful escapades. After being tempted in a teasing situation, Lorenzo escapes for his life. Along the journey, he meets Pampinea who is attempting to guard her family estate and succumbs to the wrath of Gerbino, a ruthless, wealthy merchant who has the hots for her and her fortune.
Double life, romance, and seduction. That is what pumps Lorenzo’s blood as his father recently passed away from plague furthur exposing him to being a deaf mute gardener with Abra Baltora. In order to gain access to the estate, Lorenzo puts on the facade of a deaf mute gardener which mixes identity and furthers the story.
The story also focuses on a mixed group of young male and female nobles hiding out in the plague infested city. They retreat to a villa in the countryside where they indulge in telling stories accompanied by friendly romantic and erotic flirts, paralleling the story structure of The Decameron, which features ten youngsters hiding from the plague and telling each other stories to keep themselves entertained.
Amore E Caper is a charming blend of slapstick comedy, mild action, and bawdy romance. Each element culminating in a wildly chaotic yet romantic conclusion where love and justice wins.
Cast & Crew
Director:
David Leland
Writer:
Tim Sullivan (screenplay)
Producers:
Dino De Laurentiis
Martha De Laurentiis
Main Cast:
Hayden Christensen as Lorenzo
Mischa Barton as Pampinea Anastagi
Tim Roth as Gerbino
Chris Egan as Dioneo
Matthew Rhys as Count Araldo
Rosie Fellner as Elissa
Kate Groombridge as Filomena
Ryan Cartwright as Ghino
Niall Buggy as The Monk
Cinematography:
Ben Seresin
Music Composer:
Ilan Eshkeri
Editing:
Kant Pan
Production Companies:
Dino De Laurentiis Company
Intandem Films
IMDb Rating and Reception
Virgin Territory holds an IMDb rating of around 4.8/10, indicative of generally negative to mixed reviews from both critics and audiences. The movie, which sought to blend raunchy comedy with a period piece, remained confusing to many. While some viewers appreciated the escapism the movie provided in a light-hearted manner, others considered the film flippant towards the source material, depending more on sexual jokes without providing a comprehensive plot.
Critically, the film was panned for its inconsistent pacing, excessive outlandishness in performances, and absence of historical context. Still, it has earned a modest cult following for those who love irreverent, comical takes on historical narratives or for viewers looking for a visually extravagant yet shallow narrative set in medieval times.
Thematic Framework and Dissection
Classical Literature Adaptation
To begin with, the ‘Virgin Territory’ is a liberally modernized rendition of Boccaccio’s Decameron, an Italian literary work that mixes love, human behavior, and lust in over 100 tales. The film condenses the essence of Boccaccio’s work, which intricately wove elements of satire, morality, and eroticism, into heartwarming, albeit shallow, sexual exploits, and romantic blunders.
These lighthearted escapades disregard the original stories’ themes and focus on the characters’ crude physical humor and adolescent sexual desire. This approach detracts from the literary ancestor, making it more inline with today’s adolescent ‘sex comedies.’ Although this might not sit well with literary purists, it could resonate with younger viewers who have never encountered the source material.
Love vs. Lust
The primary focus of “Virgin Territory” is exploring the love-lust conundrum. Lorenzo is depicted as an easy going womanizer who, over time, falls victim to real emotions, while Pampinea shifts from a restrained noblewoman into an empowered woman who decides to love on her own terms. In addition to classic gender role defiance and social norm courting, most supporting characters get into some ridiculous romantic or sexual trouble.
Escape and Fantasy
With the plague as its backdrop, the movie literally and thematically tries to escape illness and death. Midway through the film, the characters retreated into a secluded estate similar to The Decameron. Their isolation becomes a space for exploration—sexual, emotional, and personal. In this fantasy, propriety is suspended, modern words are used, and absurdity emerges in a way that seems both intentional and without regard to a faithful historical portrayal.
Visual Style and Production
While Virgin Territory may lack a cohesive plot, the film is visually stunning. Shot on location in Italy, the movie is enriched with persuasive set pieces, lifelike costumes, Tuscan countryside, and lavish scenery. Even when the scenes devolve into farce, Ben Seresin’s cinematography, which employs natural light and warm color palettes, fosters romance.
In line with The Score, executive produced by Ilan Eshkeri, the film is awash with classical themes intertwined with contemporary flair, staying true to the plot that balances between drama and humor set in medieval times.
Performance Highlights
Star Wars’ Hayden Christensen portrays Anakin Skywalker inf amous for his lackluster performance in the movie Lorenzo, the charmingly reckless protagonist. Playful energy was brought to the character but critics believed there was no depth to his character. In The O.C., Mischa Barton plays Pampinea who is elegant, quiet, and sophisticated yet her character does not escape the tumult that surrounds her.
Tim Roth shone as Gerbino, the villainous character where he expertly dabbles between menace and dark humor. His sinister performance adds danger to the otherwise light-hearted story.
Comic relief and fast pacing of the film was brilliantly done by the supporting cast Chris Egan and Matthew Rhys. The interactions help make the ensemble interesting to watch as they attempt to make sense while the plot hinders them.
Conclusion
The attempt to modernize classical literature with humor, sass and mischief in Virgin Territory is at best clumsy and patchy. While the film offers a taste of fun and irreverence, it does fail to appeal to the viewers who enjoy narrative complexity.
While the purists and fans of historical drama may not appreciate it, romantics and teen adventure enthusiasts are bound to love the eye-catching and humorous entertainment. Filthy storytelling married to a medieval setting gives us Virgin Territory, a curious relic of 21st century cinema that captures the everlasting nature of love’s folly intertwined with youthful makeshifts.
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