Young Lucrezia


Young Lucrezia is a 1974 Italian historical drama film directed by Luciano Ercoli and starring Simonetta Stefanelli, Massimo Foschi, Paolo Malco and Ettore Manni.

Plot

In early 16th-century Rome, the powerful House of Borgia is led by Rodrigo Borgia, who reigns as Pope Alexander VI. His daughter, Lucrezia Borgia, is deeply entangled in the family's political machinations—complicated by her incestuous relationship with her father. Lucrezia becomes the object of obsession for her brothers: Juan, the Duke of Gandía, and the dangerously jealous Cesare. Consumed by envy and desire, Cesare murders Juan after discovering his affair with Lucrezia, then departs to wage war against the rival Sforza family.
While Cesare is away, Lucrezia becomes engaged to Alfonso of Aragon, but falls in love with Pierotto, Cesare’s close friend and lieutenant, by whom she becomes pregnant. Upon Cesare’s triumphant return, he is driven by rage and jealousy. He murders Pierotto, followed by Alfonso, who by then is already married to Lucrezia.
Lucrezia finally resigns herself to her fate, and accepts her brother as her lover. As the family's internal strife threatens to spiral further, Pope Alexander VI is forced to intervene. To restore peace, he separates the siblings by marrying Lucrezia off to Alfonso I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara; and Cesare to Princess Charlotte of Albret in France.

Cast