What Is Young Lucrezia About?
The premise of Young Lucrezia in 245 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the glittering courts of early‑16th‑century Italy, the Borgia family reigns with an iron grip that fashions Rome into a stage for relentless ambition. At the apex, Rodrigo Borgia holds both the papal throne and the city’s political pulse, his presence casting a long shadow over every alliance and whisper. The atmosphere is dense with opulent decadence and the ever‑present scent of danger, where power is measured in whispered promises and clandestine favors rather than swords.
Caught in the center of this vortex is Lucrezia Borgia, a young woman whose beauty and intelligence make her both a prized asset and a vulnerable pawn. Her brother Cesare Borgia embodies the fierce drive that propels the family forward, his strategic mind ever‑watchful of any obstacle to their ascendancy. As Lucrezia navigates an arranged marriage meant to secure the Borgia grip on rival houses, the tension between familial duty and personal desire begins to surface, hinting at the fragile balance that holds their empire together.
The film unfurls with a rich, immersive tone that blends sumptuous Renaissance splendor with an undercurrent of cold calculation. Every marble corridor, frescoed hall, and bustling marketplace feels alive with intrigue, inviting the audience to sense the unspoken stakes that hover over each character’s choices. While alliances shift and ambitions collide, the core of the story remains a deep exploration of loyalty, power, and the costly price of legacy within a family that will stop at nothing to shape the future of Italy.
What Happens in Young Lucrezia?
The complete story of Young Lucrezia, from the first scene to the last, in 278 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Rodrigo Borgia sits at the apex of power in early 16th-century Rome, ruling as Pope Alexander VI while the city and its courts buzz with intrigue. His daughter, Lucrezia Borgia, is pulled into the family’s labyrinth of ambition, secrets, and a troubling closeness to her father that fuels the différentes games around her. Among Lucrezia’s brothers, Juan de Candia Borgia and the fiercely ambitious Cesare Borgia vie for control and affection, their bond frayed by envy, passion, and ruthless calculation.
Cesare’s jealousy erupts into deadly action when he learns of an affair between Lucrezia and Juan, a revelation that sets off a brutal chain of events. He murders Juan and then heads off to wage war against the rival Sforza faction, leaving the family’s internal fractures to fester in his wake.
While Cesare is away, Lucrezia’s fate takes another turn: she becomes betrothed to Alfonso of Aragon, but she cannot escape the pull of Pierotto, Cesare’s trusted lieutenant, with whom she falls in love and conceives a child. The birth of this liaison intensifies the already volatile atmosphere around the Borgias, and Cesare’s return is marked not by reconciliation, but by a storm of rage and vengeance.
The conflict within the family pushes the Pope to intervene. To restore balance and peace, he orchestrates a drastic realignment of alliances: Lucrezia is married off to Alfonso I d’Este, Duke of Ferrara, while Cesare is pledged to Princess Charlotte of Albret in France, a division meant to quiet the bloodshed and redraw the political map around the Borgias. As the tale unfolds, the web of desire, loyalty, and power tightens, leaving few unscathed in the wake of the family’s ambitions.
Young Lucrezia Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Pope Alexander VI leads the Borgia power in Rome” to “Cesare is married to Princess Charlotte of Albret in France”. 7 events name a place, across 4 locations.
- 1
Pope Alexander VI leads the Borgia power in Rome
In early 16th-century Rome, the powerful House of Borgia is led by Rodrigo Borgia, who rules as Pope Alexander VI. The family's grip on the papacy and politics creates a climate of intrigue that will drive future schemes.
When:early 16th century Where:Rome
- 2
Lucrezia becomes central to Borgia intrigues and flirts with power
Lucrezia Borgia is drawn into her family's political machinations and becomes a focal point of the Borgias' power plays. The summary notes a controversial relationship with her father that underscores the ruthlessness of the family's politics.
When:early 16th century Where:Rome
- 3
Cesare discovers Lucrezia's affair with Juan and murders his brother
Cesare, consumed by jealousy and desire, discovers Lucrezia's affair with her brother Juan, the Duke of Gandía. He murders Juan and departs to wage war against the rival Sforza family, intensifying the Borgia's grip on power.
When:early 16th century
- 4
Cesare departs to wage war against the Sforza
With Juan dead, Cesare travels to confront Milan's rival Sforza clan, aiming to extend Borgia influence in northern Italy. The campaign showcases the aggressive expansion of the family's political reach.
When:early 16th century Where:Northern Italy (Milan region)
- 5
Lucrezia's engagement to Alfonso of Aragon; she falls for Pierotto
While Cesare is away, Lucrezia becomes engaged to Alfonso of Aragon as an alliance. However, she falls in love with Pierotto, Cesare's close friend and lieutenant, complicating the match.
When:during Cesare's absence Where:Rome
- 6
Lucrezia becomes pregnant by Pierotto
Lucrezia's romance results in a pregnancy with Pierotto, further complicating the forthcoming marriage to Alfonso. The pregnancy heightens the personal stakes within the Borgias' political plans.
When:during Cesare's absence
- 7
Cesare returns from war and murders Pierotto
Cesare returns from his campaign, his jealousy boiling over into violence. He murders Pierotto, removing the rival to Lucrezia's affections.
When:upon Cesare's return
- 8
Cesare murders Alfonso
Shortly after Pierotto's death, Cesare kills Alfonso, who is already married to Lucrezia, deepening the tragedy surrounding the Borgias' power struggle.
When:after Pierotto's death
- 9
Lucrezia resigns herself to her fate and accepts Cesare as her lover
Grief and coercion push Lucrezia to resign herself to her fate and accept Cesare as her lover, cementing a dangerous family dynamic. The line between politics and obsession becomes increasingly blurred.
When:after the killings
- 10
Pope Alexander VI intervenes to restore peace
Pope Alexander VI steps in to halt the bloodshed and restore order within the family by arranging marriages that separate the siblings and re-stabilize the Borgias' rule.
When:early 16th century Where:Rome
- 11
Lucrezia is married to Alfonso I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara
Lucrezia is married off to Alfonso I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara, as part of the peace brokered by the Pope. This alliance shifts Lucrezia away from the Borgias' internal strife and ties Ferrara to Rome.
When:early 16th century Where:Ferrara
- 12
Cesare is married to Princess Charlotte of Albret in France
Cesare is betrothed and married to Princess Charlotte of Albret in France, cementing a broader alliance and moving him away from Lucrezia to solidify the political balance.
When:early 16th century Where:France
Who Are the Main Characters in Young Lucrezia?
6 characters, among them Lucrezia Borgia - Simonetta Stefanelli, Cesare Borgia - Massimo Foschi and Rodrigo Borgia - Ettore Manni: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- LB
Lucrezia Borgia - Simonetta Stefanelli
Played by Simonetta Stefanelli
Lucrezia sits at the center of a ruthless dynastic machine, where her status and relationships drive alliances and rivalries. She navigates intense family pressures and a controversial personal life, making her both a pawn and a strategist in the Borgia court. Her choices propel the plot and illuminate the costs of power.
- 👑 Noblewoman
- 💔 Forbidden Love
- CB
Cesare Borgia - Massimo Foschi
Played by Massimo Foschi
A calculating and ambitious prince, Cesare channels envy into ruthless political action. He is quick to murder to protect or advance the family’s power and shows a talent for manipulating political outcomes. His actions drive much of the intra-family violence that fractures the Borgias.
- 👑 Ambition
- 🗡️ Violence
- RB
Rodrigo Borgia - Ettore Manni
Played by Ettore Manni
The patriarch who wields papal power to advance the family’s aims. He seeks to maintain unity by orchestrating strategic marriages that separate rival factions. He balances religious authority with ruthless political calculations.
- ⛪ Papacy
- 🏛️ Politics
- JD
Juan de Candia Borgia - Paolo Malco
Played by Paolo Malco
Lucrezia’s lover, whose affair triggers Cesare’s jealousy and a chain of deadly consequences. Within the palace, his position marks him as a catalyst for tragedy and family strife.
- 💔 Jealousy
- 💘 Forbidden Love
- P-
Pierotto - Raffaele Curi
Played by Raffaele Curi
Cesare’s close friend and lieutenant, Pierotto becomes Lucrezia’s lover and the father of her child in a fateful liaison. His murder by Cesare cements the family’s violent statecraft.
- 💘 Forbidden Love
- ⚔️ Tragedy
- AD
Alfonso d'Aragona - Fred Robsahm
Played by Fred Robsahm
The Duke of Ferrara, Lucrezia’s intended husband in a political alliance. His betrothal is a crucial piece of inter-family diplomacy, but his fate is entwined with the Borgias’ violent power struggles.
- 💍 Marriage
- ⚔️ Violence
Where and When Is Young Lucrezia Set?
Young Lucrezia is set in Rome, Ferrara and France (Early 16th century). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Early 16th century
Set in the early 1500s, during the Renaissance, the narrative unfolds amid shifting alliances and brutal power plays in Italy. The papacy and noble houses wield influence, and dynastic ambition drives both romance and violence. The era's politics frame Lucrezia and her brothers' fates.
Where
Rome, Ferrara, France
Rome is the heart of papal power where the Borgias conduct statecraft and intrigue. The ducal court of Ferrara serves as a key stage for arranged marriages and power balance. The film also shows the reach of French influence through cross-border alliances.
- 🏛 Papal Rome
- 🏰 Ferrara Court
- 🇫🇷 France
What Are the Themes of Young Lucrezia?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Power, Betrayal and Religion.
-
01
Power
The Borgias wield power as a family dynasty, using papal authority, marriage alliances, and violence to secure influence. The film shows how personal relationships are instrumentalized for political gain. Loyalty often yields to ambition, and control over states becomes a central objective for siblings and father figures.
-
02
Betrayal
Betrayal threads through every major turn: lovers are used as pawns, brothers turn against brothers, and loyalties shift as rivals are eliminated. Cesare’s jealousy drives him to murder, revealing how trust dissolves under the weight of ambition. The narrative treats betrayal as a currency in the chessboard of Italian politics.
-
03
Religion
The papacy is both spiritual authority and political tool in Alexander VI’s hands. The church becomes a platform to mediate power struggles among noble families, shaping marriages and wars. The film portrays the tension between moral ideals and realpolitik within the Renaissance church.
-
04
Love
Love is tested by dynastic demands: Lucrezia’s romantic entanglements collide with duty and family betrayal. The protected love with Pierotto prompts tragedy as it clashes with Cesare’s ambitions. The romantic threads intersect with violence to reveal the cost of desire in this world of power.
What Kind of Film Is Young Lucrezia?
Dark in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Ambiguous
A dark and intense historical drama driven by incestuous obsession, political betrayal, and a relentless series of murders that creates a claustrophobic and oppressive atmosphere.
- oppressive
- lustful
- treacherous
- melancholic
- desperate
- vengeful
- political corruption
- incest
- family dynasty
- murder
Content notes: incest, murder, sexual content.
