“A
ruthless ambition to rise to the HolySee, whomsoever
he has to
sacrifice, drives a lustful, depraved
and treacherous cardinal in his
merciless bid to gain the ultimate power
during the closing years of the 15th
Century in the television costume
drama Borgia (Faith And Fear)...”
WITH THE VISION OF THE HOLY SEE firmly within his sights, Cardinal Rodrigo
Borgia (John Dorman: The Wire) has a powerful and trusted position as
vice-chancellor with the ear of the Pope, even though he is still seen by his
peers as a foreigner.
In 1492 the threat of invasion from France — then the most powerful military
force in the world — and the Turks was very real. Following the end of
the Moslem rule in Spain and the country's return to Catholicism, King Ferdinand
of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile petition the Pope for the granting of
the title of Most Catholic Majesty.
Italy is, at this time, divided into ten warring kingdoms with Rome and the
Papal States ruled by Pope Innocent VIII (Udo Kieras), who is advised by the
Sacred College of Cardinals — made up of members of the ruling families
who are all at loggerheads with each other.
“Spectacular
and
exciting,
Borgia (Faith And Fear)
is a compulsive
costume drama that
keeps up the pace
throughout the series...”
The
last decade of the 15th Century was an amazing time. With the Renaissance and
Enlightenment came enormous scientific advancements as intellectual and artistic
endeavours changed the world and Europe became the centre of global commerce.
It is a time of beauty and progression, with the astonishing talents of Michelangelo,
Botticelli and especially Leonardo Da Vinci. But within the deadly shadows of
an archaic and crumbling Rome lurk the extreme violence, depravity and corruption
that continue to have a stranglehold on The Eternal City.
Within the murderous abyss of treachery and death stands the infamous Cardinal
Rodrigo Borgia, vice-chancellor and the most powerful advisor to the Pope, who
will not rest until he has succeeded in his ambitions to become one of the world's
most influential men.
Borgia's ruthlessness and lust for power is to bring him his appointment as
Pope Alexander VI and he will lead the church and the world into one of the
most controversial and darkest chapters in known history.
Of Spanish descent, Rodrigo Borgia is the nephew of a previous Pope and is aware
of the strong opposition to the appointment of another Spaniard. However, determined
to follow in his uncle's footsteps, he begins to use his illegitimate children
as pawns by securing prestigious and advantageous positions for his sons and
arranging a suitable marriage for his daughter.
Juan (Stanley Weber), the eldest, is an arrogant womaniser. Cardinal Borgia
has great plans for him, starting with the granting of a Dukedom, but Cesare
(Mark Ryder), at school in Pisa and struggling to balance his darkly violent
nature with his religious studies, is offered a Bishopric and resents the higher
position of his brother.
Lucrezia (Isolda Dychauk), is yet to discover the power of her own sexuality
and her uncle will arrange a marriage for her that will enhance the family's
standing and wealth.
Goffredo, the youngest child, is an innocent who is not invited to join his
siblings as the Cardinal does not believe the boy to be his son.
Juan and Cesare's lives and fortunes will be at risk from those jealous of the
Borgia power. The Cardinal urges them to keep all the other prominent families
believing that the Borgias are allies, but behind the proffered hand of friendship
is a steely heart.
Lucrezia is placed under the guidance of Lady Giulia Farnese (Marta Gastini),
who is married to Alessandro Farmese (Diurmuid Noyes) but is the passionate
and willing mistress of Rodrigo Borgia. In this dangerous place of deadly secrets,
treachery, jealousies, murders, ruthless ambitions and violent retribution,
enemies are made and allegiances forged.
And in this age of war and depravity, Rodrigo Borgia's children will make their
mark. But why can Cesare not be the priest he has been chosen to be and will
Lucrezia bow to Rodrigo's demands? Taking in all the infamous, complex characters
that make up the family who made the Borgia name notorious for half a century,
the series features an acclaimed cast and the second series has already been
commissioned to start production at the end of 2012.
Borgia (Faith And Fear) is a lavish, licentious tale charting the early
Spanish origins of the legendary family and their brutal rise to power within
the corrupt Vatican and their eventual domination of all Renaissance Italy.
This magnificent French-German historical drama was filmed in Prague and Italy.
Spectacular and exciting, Borgia (Faith And Fear) is a compulsive costume
drama that keeps up the pace throughout the series.
Borgia (Faith And Fear) also features: Andrea Sawatzki as Adriana de
Mila; Art Malik as Francesc Galet; Assumpta Serna as Vannozza Cattanei; John
Bradley as Giovanni de Medici; Sean Campion as Virginio Orsini; Dejan Cukic
as Giuliano Colonna; Tereza Voriskova as Fiametta Michaelis; Marek Vasut as
Fabrizio Colonna; and Nicholas Belmonte as Shahzadeh Djem.
Music by Cyril Moris; Costume Designer is Sergio Ballo; Director of Photography
is Ousama Rawi BSC, CSC; Producers are Michael Schwarz and Petr Moravec; Created
and Written by Tom Fontana (Oz); Teleplay by Kyle Bradstreet and Brant
Englestein; and Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel.
* The UK premiere of Oliver Hirschbiegel's acclaimed mini-series Borgia (Faith
And Fear), produced by Tom Fontana, the award-winning creator of Oz,
and the writing team behind The Wire, comes to DVD and Blu-ray on 20
August 2012 courtesy of STUDIOCANAL.
Features — DVD Running Time: 667 Minutes Approximately | CatalogueNumber:
OPTD2464 | RRP: £24.99. Blu-ray Running Time: 693 Minutes Approximately | CatalogueNumber:
OPTBD2464 | RRP: £34.99. Note that all DVD & Blu-ray Boxsets contain 4 discs
featuring all 13 episodes).
Special Features (Blu-ray Only): Behind the scenes: Secrets of Borgia
| Borgia Diaries (Cast interviews).
"Spectacular and exciting, Borgia (Faith And Fear) is a compulsive costume
drama that keeps up the pace throughout the series" —
Maggie Woods, MotorBar
“A
ruthless ambition to rise to the