Florence, Italy – A legal challenge concerning depictions within Paolo Virzì’s latest film, “Cinque secondi,” has been brought before the Court of Florence, potentially halting its distribution. The lawsuit, filed by an heir of a Tuscan noble family, centers on a character in the film – Matilde Guelfi Camaiani – which the production team states is loosely based on a real-life Tuscan countess.
The plaintiff alleges that the film violates the family’s reputation and that no agreement was reached regarding the use of the family’s name or likeness. According to court documents, the film portrays the family as “a noble family in decline, involved in financial difficulties, drug use, crimes, suicide, and psychiatric problems.” The suit further contends that the depiction associates the family with a “nobility devoid of morality and religious values,” attributing a false narrative that has caused “harm to the personal and social identity” of the plaintiff.
Judge Carolina Dini of the First Civil Section of the Court of Florence recently dismissed a request for an injunction to block the film’s release, but the case is expected to proceed to a full hearing in the coming weeks. Judge Dini, in her ruling, stated that the measures already taken, combined with the film’s inherent characteristics, are “able to avoid that the public can think that the film intended to proceed with any historical-biographical representation of the members of the family.” “no danger of prejudice to the identity of the applicant, in its family dimension, to his honor, decorum and reputation seems to exist,” according to the court record.
The plaintiff had also sought compensation of 5,000 euros for each day the film remained in theaters. The legal action targets both Greenboo Production srl and Indiana Production srl, the companies responsible for producing and distributing “Cinque secondi.”
According to a report from Il Fatto Quotidiano, the case revolves around the extent to which artistic license can be exercised when drawing inspiration from real individuals and families. The court will need to determine whether the film’s portrayal crosses the line into defamation or misrepresentation.