Imagine if Fatma Ruffini wasn’t behind it! The most sadistic program of the year is The Real Housewives of Rome, «the story of the uninhibited daily life of six charismatic Roman housewives protagonists of the social and cultural life of the capital, between parties in the penthouses of the historic center, friendships and rivalries in the exclusive sports clubs on the banks of the Tiber and blue-blooded guests of very designer vernissages” (Real Time). From ten meters away they look like very classy ladies. At a distance of three, however, it looks like something made to be seen from a distance of ten. According to the canons of the network, I am thinking of Il Castello delle Cerimonie, L’Atelier delle Meraviglie, Il Salone delle Meraviglie with Federico Fashion Style, sand the ladies sacrifice themselves in front of the cameras to give us the most grotesque portrait of the Roman upper class. I don’t feel like naming them, because there’s a risk that they are real people and it’s all the fault of the charade. But in short, one is “demanding and a lover of very designer outfits”, another is a cosmetic doctor who married a nobleman, another lives between Cortina and Porto Rotondoanother «juggles relaxing massages, beauty touches, boxing and sessions with a nutritionist to measure her waistline», another is a countess «internationally renowned artist of Scandinavian origin» and finally there is «the most fascinating and exclusive PR of Rome”.
They all look like sisters of the Minister of Tourism. They define themselves as “icons”, they say phrases like «refinement can’t be bought» (and it shows) or «I can tolerate everyone but not rude people», they use the word «top» as if it were the top, they go out with python coats and gold-colored bags, they read Adelphi books ( at least the cover). The program is funny despite itself because it’s great fresco of remnants of rudeness. It is a Castle of ceremonies in reverse, devoid of the necessary irony but well endowed with a perfidy that knocks out the “poor” women into an irredeemable caricature. A skilful editing gives us a carousel of images that are heartbroken but not redeemed by time.
