home to the first presidents of the Toulouse Parliament and now the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce
here are just a few of the curiosities to be found in this emblematic city landmark
the headquarters of Toulouse’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) is housed in this building steeped in history and life
painted ceilings dating back to the 17th century
ancient sculptural details blending with those of its 20th-century extension… Its fusion of architectural and artistic styles makes it one of the city’s true cultural gems
now hosting professional and cultural events of all kinds
It is housed in the magnificent Hôtel de Fumel building
Built in the first half of the 20th century
its Art Nouveau influences continue to adorn its façade
blending history with modern functionality
If you’re arriving from Toulouse-Matabiau station
the Palais Consulaire is just a 25-minute walk away(or 10 minutes by metro or bus)
there are several parking lots nearby: Carmes
you can also visit such landmarks as the Chapelle des Carmélites
nicknamed the “Sistine Chapel of Toulouse”
and the Chapelle du CHU Hôtel-Dieu Saint-Jacques
Metrics details
Beside its well-documented role in carcinogenesis
the function of p53 family has been more recently revealed in development and female reproduction
but it is still poorly documented in male reproduction
We specifically tested this possibility by ablating Mdm2
an E3 ligase that regulates p53 protein stability and transactivation function
specifically in Sertoli cells (SCs) using the AMH-Cre line and created the new SC-Mdm2−/− line
Heterozygous SC-Mdm2−/+ adult males were fertile
but SC-Mdm2−/− males were infertile and exhibited: a shorter ano-genital distance
an extra duct along the vas deferens that presents a uterus-like morphology
degenerated testes with no organized seminiferous tubules and a complete loss of differentiated germ cells
P450c17 (Cyp17a1) and P450scc (Cyp11a1) mRNA levels decreased significantly
and both plasma LH and FSH levels increased
A detailed investigation of testicular development indicated that the phenotype arose during fetal life
with SC-Mdm2−/− testes being much smaller at birth
Leydig cells remained present until adulthood and fetal germ cells abnormally initiated meiosis
Inactivation of Mdm2 in SCs triggered p53 activation and apoptosis as early as 15.5 days post conception with significant increase in apoptotic SCs
testis development occurred normally in SC-Mdm2−/− lacking p53 mice (SC-Mdm2−/−p53−/−) and accordingly
these mice were fertile indicating that the aforementioned phenotypes are entirely p53-dependent
These data not only highlight the importance of keeping p53 in check for proper testicular development and male fertility but also certify the critical role of SCs in the maintenance of meiotic repression
Histology sections (hematoxylin staining) of testes and ducts in adult SC-Mdm2−/− males (A
E) compared with Cre- males for testes and vas deferens (B
Testicular cells were not organized in seminiferous tubules in adult SC-Mdm2−/− testes (A
a) and no differentiated germ cells were present
No sperm was present in the lumen (*) of the vas deferens contrary to Cre- (C
The histology of the extra duct was similar to the uterus (E
Bar in large windows represents 100 μm; magnification is four times greater in small windows (a
(a) Plasma testosterone levels in adult SC-Mdm2−/− males
in basal conditions and after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) stimulation
In both SC-Mdm2−/− and Cre- (8 males for each genotype)
hCG induced a significant increase (***P<0.001) in testosterone secretion
Plasma testosterone levels decreased significantly in SC-Mdm2−/− compared with Cre- (**P<0.01)
Data shown as mean +/− S.E.M.; statistical analyses: two-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni’s post hoc test; hatching: basal levels; white: hCG stimulated levels
(b) SC-Mdm2−/− testes exhibit a decrease in mRNA levels of Cyp17a1 (P450c17)
The amounts of mRNA of the three steroidogenic genes were compared between SC-Mdm2−/− and Cre- (n=5 mice for each genotype
tested in triplicate) using TaqMan quantitative real-time PCR as described in Materials and Methods
Normalization was performed with two housekeeping genes
that both exhibited similar expression between samples
Results are presented as % of mRNA level in Cre- (100 is arbitrary level for whole Cre- testes) and a non-parametric test (Mann-Whitney) was chosen for the statistical analysis (***P<0.001)
(c) LH levels in SC-Mdm2−/− males: plasma LH concentrations expressed in pg/100 μl in Cre- (n=13) and SC-Mdm2−/− (n=19) determined by RIA
(d) FSH levels in SC-Mdm2−/− males: plasma FSH concentrations expressed in ng/100 μl in Cre- (n=16) and SC-Mdm2−/− (n=23) determined by RIA
Statistical analysis: Mann-Whitney test (***P<0.001)
Maintenance of Leydig cells in absence of SCs
P1 and adult controls (Cre-) (a to h) and SC-Mdm2−/− (i to p) testes detected Leydig cells
o for SC-Mdm2−/−) represent an overview of a representative section of the testes (cartography)
Right panels represent high magnifications (b
Numerous Leydig cells were retrieved in both genotypes at all ages studied
they were retrieved between the cords in the control testes and formed well-organized clusters around birth
these cells were still retrieved in adult mutant testes that appeared literally packed with 3βHSD-positive cells
This clearly indicated that the presence of SCs was dispensable for Leydig cell maintenance in this model
To verify the implication of the p53 tumor suppressor gene in the phenotype, we created a new line by introgressing the SC Mdm2 invalidation in the p53−/− line, as described in Materials and Methods (p53−/− being normally fertile). Mating was conducted until at least four individuals of each genotype of interest and their respective controls were obtained (Table 1)
SC-Mdm2−/−p53+/+ were infertile with the same phenotype as SC-Mdm2−/−
whereas their controls Cre-p53+/+ were fertile
SC-Mdm2−/− lacking p53 (SC-Mdm2−/−p53−/−) were normally fertile proving that the phenotype due to Mdm2 invalidation involves p53
One p53 allele (SC-Mdm2−/−p53+/-) is sufficient to maintain the infertility phenotype
few studies have examined the critical factor for SC survival and the development of a gonad devoid of SCs
We report here that Mdm2 is critical to prevent SC apoptosis and that its specific invalidation triggers a rapid loss of this lineage in testes
albeit with reduced steroidogenic activity and germ cells did not differentiate properly and only survived a few days
which proves that enough testosterone and INSL3 were produced during fetal life
this secretion of LC is probably not dependent upon SC regulation
our report of a premature meiotic entry is not surprising
the sex of germ cells is determined between E12 and E14
so one would not expect meiotic entry owing to a late loss of SCs (i.e.
We may thus consider that SCs are required both to impose and to maintain a male fate in germ cells
the seemingly proper differentiation of LC and the altered one of germ cells fits well with fetal LC differentiation occurring prior to germ cell differentiation (i.e.
Our SC-Mdm2−/− model proposed here is complementary as it precludes the risk related to using a toxin with possible side effects
Rebourcet and colleagues indicate a variable phenotype with
a mere 60% reduction in the size of adult testes
possibly owing to a partial ablation of SCs in response to expression of the toxin
The invalidation of Mdm2 thus offers a more efficient and reproducible ablation of SCs
as we systematically obtained (around 30 males examined for the entire study) a 95% reduction in testis weight
The overall conclusions of both studies converge toward SCs being required to sustain germ and Leydig cell activity with a total loss of germ cells and the presence of a population of LC in adult testes
A slight difference related to the masculinization (e.g.
differentiation of epididymis and vas deferens owing to testosterone production) was observed that did not seem to occur following expression of the toxin
whereas it is obvious following Mdm2 invalidation
We believe this may be due to the partial loss of SCs in the former system
these authors also reported the persistence of SOX9-positive cells in the rete area
due to epithelial cells in the rete only partially expressing Cre
our work provides a clear demonstration of the crucial role of Mdm2/p53 in the regulation of SC apoptosis and opens new possibilities for studying the role of this cell type
thanks to efficient ablation during fetal life
Future works will need to characterize the precise kinetics of dysfunctions in LC in the absence of SCs
Mice were fed a standard laboratory diet and tap water ad libitum
and maintained under 12 L:12D photoperiods in a temperature-controlled room (21–23 °C)
All animal studies were conducted in accordance with the guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals issued by the French Ministry of Agriculture and with the approval of a local ethical committee (number 2011-12-3
Comité d’Ethique en Expérimentation Animale Val de Loire – n°19)
All efforts were made to minimize animal stress and suffering
and the resulting Cre+Mdm2−/+ offspring were backcrossed to Mdm2LL mice to obtain Cre+Mdm2−/−
so called SC-Mdm2−/−; controls were contemporary Cre-Mdm2LL littermates
p53−/− (null) mice were obtained from the Jackson laboratory (Sacramento
Cre+Mdm2−/− females were bred with p53−/− males
and the resulting Cre+Mdm2−/+ p53−/+ offspring were intercrossed to obtain homozygous mice for invalid Mdm2 alleles (Mdm2−/−)
followed by intercrossing to obtain males with key genotypes: SC-Mdm2−/−p53−/+; SC-Mdm2−/−p53−/−; SC-Mdm2−/−p53+/+; and their respective contemporary littermate controls: Cre-p53−/+; Cre-p53−/−; Cre-p53+/+
we used these mice for breeding and experiments before the age of 3.5 months
SC-Mdm2−/−p53+/+ and heterozygous SC-Mdm2−/+)
each adult male (at least four per genotype) was mated with two or four primiparous Swiss female mice
DNA was extracted using the Tissue PCR Kit (Sigma-Aldrich
GABR detection (200 bp) was used to control DNA quality
RNA (1 μg) was reverse-transcribed using the RNeasy kit (QIAGEN
France) according to the manufacturer’s instructions (the kit includes genomic DNA elimination with DNAse)
The sample with RNA but without RT (RT−) was the negative control
the primers were: forward: 5′ TAC GAC CAG AGG CAT ACA GG 3′ reverse: 5′ TGA CCC AGA TCA TGT TTG AGA 3′
Three steroidogenic genes were analyzed using the TaqMan assay
with primers and probes inventoried by Applied Biosystems (Fisher Scientific
France): StAR (Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein
Mm00441558_m1); P450scc -Cyp11a1- (cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme
Mm00490735_m1); P450c17 -Cyp17a1- (steroid 17 α hydroxylase/17,20 lyase cyrochrome P450c17
PCR reagents were all purchased from Applied Biosystems (Fisher Scientific) and real-time PCR was carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions in a final volume of 25 μl (samples were run in triplicate)
Fluorescence was detected on an iCycler Bio-Rad apparatus (Bio-Rad
Negative controls (RT− and H20) were run for every primer/probe combination
Normalization was performed using two internal standards
β-actin (Mm00607939_s1) and Gapdh (Mm99999915_g1) from the same sample
and the normalized cDNA was compared between the two genotypes
Around 500 μl of blood were obtained by retro-orbital sampling in anesthetized mice (with diazepam and ketamine)
samples (two dilutions per sample) or testosterone dilutions (to determine the range) were incubated for 1 h at 40 °C (0.1 M phosphate buffer with 0.1% gelatin) with tritiated testosterone plus the anti-testosterone antibody
A secondary antibody was then added and the mixtures incubated overnight at 4 °C
Immuno-precipitation was then performed with PEG (PolyEthyleneGlycol) 4000 and the radioactivity counted (Packard C2900
Plasma FSH levels were determined in 100 μl aliquots using a double Ab method and a RIA kit (rFSH RIA)
kindly supplied by the National Institutes of Health (Dr A
Rat FSH antigen (NIDDK-rFSH-I) was labeled with 125I using the chloramine-T method and the hormone concentration was expressed using the rat FSH reference preparation (NIDDK-rFSH-RP-2) as the standard
Intraassay and interassay coefficients were less than 7% and 10%
The sensitivity of the assay was 0.125 ng/100 μl
Plasma LH levels were determined in 100 μl aliquots using a double Ab method and a RIA kit (mLHRia)
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Rat LH-I-10 (AFP-11536B) was labeled with 125I using the chloramine-T method and the hormone concentration was expressed using the mouse LH reference preparation (AFP-5306 A) as the standard
The sensitivity of the assay was 4 pg/100 μl
Testis histology (seminiferous tubule organization) was analyzed after fixing in Bouin’s fluid and embedding in paraffin
4-μm sections were stained with hematoxylin
Immunostaining was performed as described previously41 with minor modifications
postnatal and adult testes were fixed overnight in 10% neutral formalin (Carlo Erba Reagents
embedded in paraffin wax and cut into 5-μm sections
Adult testes were stained with hematoxylin and eosin; fetal and postnatal testes were used for immunostaining
The primary antibodies used in this study were either rabbit polyclonal anti-DEAD/H box polypeptide 4 (DDX4/VASA; 1 : 200
rabbit polyclonal anti-cleaved caspase-3 (1 : 200
France) or rabbit polyclonal anti-TP53 (1/500
The same protocol was used for antigen retrieval
After testis section dewaxing and rehydration
antigen retrieval was performed in HIER citrate buffer pH 6 (Zytomed
Sections were then washed in distilled water and incubated for 15 min in 3% H2O2 at room temperature
After 30 min in 2.5% normal Horse serum (Vector laboratories
primary antibodies diluted in PBS were incubated for 1 h at 37 °C
Primary antibodies were revealed using the secondary antibody IMPRESS kit (Vector Laboratories
Peroxidase activity was visualized using either 3,3’-diaminobenzidine (brown) or vip (purple) as a substrate
Sections were counterstained with hematoxylin
TUNEL staining was performed using the Apoptag peroxidase kit (MP Biomedicals
France) in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations
at least 300 cells were counted in three different sections for each testis
primary antibodies were detected with specific secondary antibody species Alexa Fluor 488- and Alexa Fluor 594-conjugated antibodies (1 : 500
the Student’s t test or the Mann-Whitney U test
in case of differences in variance (Fisher test)
Other comparisons were performed using a two-way ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni post-test
and assembly of the component cell populations
development and regulation of human Leydig cells
High sensitivity of rat foetal germ cells to low dose-rate irradiation
High radiosensitivity of germ cells in human male fetus
J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2007; 92: 2632–2639
Tumor suppressors: a developing role for p53
The p53 family: guardians of maternal reproduction
p53-mediated apoptosis and cisplatin sensitivity in germ cell tumors
Apoptosis of fetal testicular cells is regulated by both p53-dependent and independent mechanisms
The role of the tumor suppressor p53 in spermatogenesis
the cellular gatekeeper for growth and division
The complexity of p53 stabilization and activation
Mdm2-mediated ubiquitylation: p53 and beyond
Rescue of early embryonic lethality in mdm2-deficient mice by deletion of p53
Rescue of embryonic lethality in Mdm2-deficient mice by absence of p53
Sertoli and granulosa cell-specific Cre recombinase activity in transgenic mice
Tight regulation of p53 activity by Mdm2 is required for ureteric bud growth and branching
Tissue-specific differences of p53 inhibition by Mdm2 and Mdm4
Wilms' tumor suppressor (WT1) is a mediator of neuronal degeneration associated with the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease
protects terminally differentiated smooth muscle cells from p53-mediated caspase-3-independent cell death
The effect of adenovirus-conjugated NDRG2 on p53-mediated apoptosis of hepatocarcinoma cells through attenuation of nucleotide excision repair capacity
Expression of p53 protein in spermatogenesis is confined to the tetraploid pachytene primary spermatocytes
Resistance of differentiating spermatogonia to radiation-induced apoptosis and loss in p53-deficient mice
Temperature-mediated germ cell loss in the testis is associated with altered expression
Radiosensitivity of testicular cells in the fetal mouse
Induction of medulloblastomas in p53‐null mutant mice by somatic inactivation of Rb in the external granular layer cells of the cerebellum
Pubertal and adult Leydig cell function in Mullerian inhibiting substance-deficient mice
Genetic analysis of the Müllerian-inhibiting substance signal transduction pathway in mammalian sexual differentiation
Desert Hedgehog/Patched 1 signaling specifies fetal Leydig cell fate in testis organogenesis
Anogenital distance (AGD) plasticity in adulthood: Implications for its use as a biomarker of fetal androgen action
FGF9 suppresses meiosis and promotes male germ cell fate in mice
Sertoli cells control peritubular myoid cell fate and support adult Leydig cell development in the prepubertal testis
Sertoli cells maintain Leydig cell number and peritubular myoid cell activity in the adult mouse testis
Conditional allele of mdm2 which encodes a p53 inhibitor
Tumor spectrum analysis in p53-mutant mice
Transgenic mice as a model to study the regulation of human transferrin expression in Sertoli cells
The organization and expression of the mdm2 gene
Thyroid hormone limits postnatal Sertoli cell proliferation in vivo by activation of its alpha1 isoform receptor (TRalpha1) present in these cells and by regulation of Cdk4/JunD/c-myc mRNA levels in mice
a powerful model for studying rat and mouse fetal testis development
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We would like to thank Claude Cahier and Deborah Crespin for the animal facilities
Special thanks go to Christophe Gauthier for the testosterone assays
Peggy Jarrier and Linda Beauclair for the genotyping
Mrs Arlette Gerard for the FSH and LH assays and Marie Françoise Pinault for her help managing the pictures
Florian Guillou is thanked for providing AMH-Cre line
The English was proofread and corrected by Helen Lamprell from HSB Traductions
This work was funded by two grants from the Agence Nationale pour la Recherche ('Biodiversité
agronomie' grant; 2011-2013): TimeOfLife2 and EarlyFoll
S Fouchécourt and G Livera: These authors contributed equally in this work
UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements
UMR6175 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements
The authors declare no conflict of interest
Supplementary Information accompanies this paper on Cell Death and Differentiation website
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Indian Journal of Gynecologic Oncology (2024)
and studied architecture and design at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris
Nouvel was a founding member of "Mars 1976"
He also participated in creating the Syndicat de l'Architecture
an independent organisation aimed at promoting a more critical awareness within the profession
Nouvel has received prestigious architecture awards throughout his career
including the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (granted for the design of the Institut du Monde Arabe)
he received the Royal Gold Medal from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for his international career
he was awarded the Wolf Prize in the Arts by the Wolf Foundation in Jerusalem
He was awarded the Grand Gold Medal of the Académie d’Architecture of France and named Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government
he has been made an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and has received honorary doctorates from several universities
the “exotic brise-soleil” of the Institut du Monde Arabe
the “bullet-shaped” Torre Agbar in Barcelona with its “candy-colored” skin
the “muscular” Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis with its cantilevered bridge
mysterious and eccentrically wild” Musée du Quai Branly (2006) and the Philharmonie de Paris (a “journey into the unknown”
The Pritzker highlighted numerous important works: in Europe
the Fondation Cartier for Contemporary Art (1994)
the Culture and Congress Center in Lucerne (2000)
the Concert Hall in Copenhagen and the Palace of Justice in Nantes (2000)
as well as two tall towers in development in North America
Tour Verre in New York and a residential tower in Los Angeles
His recent cultural projects include the Louvre Abu Dhabi
Of the many phrases that might be used to describe the career of architect Jean Nouvel
foremost are those that emphasize his courageous pursuit of new ideas and his challenge of accepted norms to stretch the boundaries of the field
[...] The jury acknowledged the ‘persistence
an insatiable urge for creative experimentation’ as qualities abundant in Nouvel’s work
Among his principal projects are the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris
the Fondation Cartier and the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris
the Culture and Congress Center KKL in Lucerne
the extension of the Reina Sofía Art Center in Madrid
the main complex of the Pierre and Marie Curie University campus in Paris
and the French Pavilion for Expo Shanghai 2010
Among his current projects under study or construction are “53W53
Tour de Verre,” which integrates the expansion of the MoMA galleries in New York
the “Le Nouvel” residential towers in Kuala Lumpur
the “Hekla” and “Duo” office towers in Paris
the cultural complex “The Artists’ Garden” in Qingdao
and the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC) in Beijing
The design for the Louvre Abu Dhabi began in 2006 with Nouvel’s associate architect
His recent plans also include projects in Dakar
as well as urban interventions in historic sites such as the city center of Toledo
Archive Architecture
1945) is one of the most renowned architects worldwide
He is the winner of the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 2008 which he shares with other contemporary experts in the field of architecture such as Canadian Frank Gehry
the Italian Renzo Piano and the Japanese Tadao Ando among many others
Nouvel began working for architects Claude Parent and Paul Virilio until he decided to start his own firm
Founding member of movements like Mars in 1976
the French architect is known worldwide for numerous projects and
that which brought him sudden recognition in 1987 after more than a decade of projects: the Arab World Institute in Paris
This striking façade is composed of photoelectric cells
reminiscent of arabesque because of the geometric shape used as decoration in Arab architecture; it can open or close according to external light levels and thereby regulate light’s entry into the building
The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía hosts this exhibition organised by the Musée National d'Art Moderne Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris
a visual journey through the famous architect’s career
As additional evidence of Museo Reina Sofía’s interest in the inclusion of architecture the exhibition Universo Gaudí will be held at the same time
It will exhibit the contribution of other major international architects
Nouvel is also the winning architect of a contest to carry out the expansion of the Museo Reina Sofía
For this reason the exhibition brings visitors closer to projects previously created by the French architect as well as those that are currently running
Five thematic sequences -“El atlas” (Atlas)
“La causa urbana” (Urban Cause) and “La agencia” (The Agency)- make up the path along which large photographs
computer graphics and footage of buildings designed by Nouvel are displayed
Far from an exhibition of drawings and models this exhibition focuses on images which reaffirms transparent spaces and the play of light and shadows as the main premises for the architect
The "El atlas" section is conceived as a huge collection of x-ray images which capture everything from the finished work to its most specific details and "La multiplicidad" goes over the multiple configurations and aspects of his most recent projects
The section "Lo hechos" stands out because it virtually tours eleven of his emblematic creations among which are the Culture and Convention Centre in Lucerne (1990-2000)
the Lafayette Galleries in Berlin (1991-1996)
the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art in Paris (1991-1995)
the Opera Theatre in Lyon (1986-1993) or the Vinci Congress Centre in Tours (1989-1993)
Next to this room Nouvel’s projects in Spain can be seen
the Ciudad de la Cultura in Santiago de Compostela and the Centro de Actividades in La Coruña
as well as the aforementioned extension of the Museo Reina Sofía
one of Nouvel’s concerns is made apparent; the concept of "modification" as opposed to the generic city
the issue that is the centrepiece of the exhibition and that is exemplified in this section by urban projects: Left Bank of the Seine and the Stade de France
"La agencia" allows a view of the documents
files and databases that constitute the memory of the more than two hundred projects
Collaboration with different agents and international political and cultural collectives
A confederation of artistic internationalism made up of seven European museums
Architect Jean Nouvel Invites Us into His Creative Thought Process and Discusses His Current Battle over the Paris Philharmonic
serves as the meeting place for our interview
Nouvel is one of the key members of an exclusive group of architects
which has been honored with the most significant architecture awards in the world
Elena Cué: The anti-Le Corbusier architect Claude Parent was your mentor when you were starting out at the age of 21
Please tell me about what meeting him meant for your career
You were actively involved in May 68 with a radical stance against the educational model of the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris
Jean Nouvel: I felt that his studio was one of the most creative at that time
created a space where a new approach to architecture could evolve
Paul became a very well-known philosopher and thinker of the time
I joined the intellectual rebellion of "May 68" and it certainly impacted my architectural style in terms of its criticism of the way in which French cities have traditionally been constructed
I joined with them to create the "March 1976 Movement," which demanded that the design of French cities no longer follow the same traditional model
EC: How would you define your architectural thought
JN: I think it's similar to the solidification of a cultural experience
Cities are made from an assortment of constructed testimonies
which reflect the things that each generation specifically liked
the different techniques that were used at that time
I've spent my life fighting against certain forms of academicism
It's true that there's an actual entity that's devoted to reproducing models from the past—the worst things from the worst situations and then making them pastiche
is always a degradation of what was true at an earlier time
It's like a ghost or a faint remnant of the past
I believe that every place deserves careful consideration
every project is the start of an adventure
and the people with whom I am going to find myself at that moment are all going to contribute something completely unique
This sort of precision and nonconformity serve as an attack on the concept of cloning
there is something that has made the situation even worse—the development of information technology
the guidelines for creating any kind of project are readily available
you can design a building in a few hours based upon these predetermined criteria
or love in the designs that come about like that
you try to create a space that would be the mental extension of what is seen
How much is there of the erotic in your work
Architecture is a mystery that must be preserved
concealing is one of the elements of eroticism and therefore
clear glass panels on a surface creating a mysterious uncertainty because of the way it plays with the reflections of the trees and the clouds
There are also situations where you can play with the presence of nature to the point that you wonder if it's really a garden
A garden is where thousands of natural species have reproduced and are coexisting together
as well as the interference with the sun and the rain
create certain sensations that we aren't used to feeling
It's a form of simplicity that truly hides an enormous complexity and this complexity is what distinguishes that specific location
The reflections and the porosity of the emerald-colored glass make it so that you can hardly see what's behind
it appears as if the landscape is printed on them
ways of saying things or not saying things
context and culture with which they will coexist
in what factors do you seek your inspiration?
Circumstances don't only relate to the actual place
but also to the aspects of an encounter or an appearance
I'm considered a "situationist," but I don't think you can design a building just like that
A building isn't a sculpture and it typically doesn't change places
but that's very rare and I feel like those situations are completely unpredictable
we are always searching for anything that can impact a project and change it
which means that we must respond to lots of questions and concerns
You have to realize that architects are always considered to be incompetent and yet their work in and of itself must be highly competent
I have to view it as if I'm coming from the opposite perspective and there are a lot of things I just don't know
and to understand all aspects of the question at hand
you must always combine the outside perspective with the inner viewpoint.
Someone that knows a location or a profession very well has inner vision
If you visit a city that you've never seen before
you're able to see things without noticing every single detail
Something quite poetic and pleasing can be emphasized
and revisited by those who are on the inside
The architect's first task is what I call catalysis; in other words
things usually materialize with just a tiny spark
there's the job of harmoniously combining all of those elements that
You must try to establish unity or synergy
you were disappointed with the end-result of the enlargement of the Museo Reina Sofía
contracts are not entirely clear and businesses have intentions that are not necessarily the same as ours
architects had a certain level of power that would get them respect in these kinds of situations
I wasn't happy about some of the conditions that were set forth in stone
but I'm generally not dissatisfied with the profound nature of the project
What bothered me most was that the Council promised to do a bunch of things
There was a study done by Álvaro Siza where the traffic in front of the Reina Sofía would be redirected underground
the project was carried out based upon the hypothesis that this would be accomplished
what that means is that the pedestrians are not going to have the same relationship with the building and
there is a sound effect caused by the noise from the street
which bounces off the roof and is heard inside where the original calmness has been lost forever
It's simply not possible to have the same tranquility that was originally envisioned
EC: You have commented that in your building for the Cartier Foundation you mix real and virtual images using glass panes and light to trick the senses
Your aesthetic principles are reminiscent of the artist James Turrel
who explores the perception of space by using light to modify that perception
Are you interested in this artist’s train of thought?
He's an artist that completely plays with locations
His works simply can't be moved to different places
Their meaning derives entirely from their locations
I'm not talking about the core of the design
which obviously is very close to his vision of the world
I'm referring to the way in which his designs are positioned in order to frame the sky or to capture and create light thereby altering the classification and contours of the location
I really like artists that work according to the situation at hand rather than simply focusing on a few objects that they don't really know where to put
As a result of the commercialized advancement of art
I think that there's a kind of truth to art that is best expressed when the works are done in their original location
They either belong to a place architecturally well or geographically well
all of James Turrel's work involving perspective and light has clearly inspired me for a very long time
EC: You've designed a lot of buildings in Spain
What I can say is that I can't put the Agbar Tower in Madrid
people that don't know Barcelona see the Agbar Tower in international magazines and they don't understand it at all
Its formal design has been utilized by Catalonian architects for many centuries and was inspired by Monserrat's mountainous peaks
The phallic nature of Monserrat's peaks is impressive
The fact that the Tower has been designed on an urban scale never seen before and that it's also colored makes it a tribute to Gaudí
The Catalonians and Barcelonians readily acknowledge that the building represents their culture and
understand that it was formed from their DNA
the international community only sees the phallic symbol as a suggestion of sexual provocativeness and nothing more
EC: The recently installed Paris Philharmonic opened to the public without your work being finished
What can you tell me about this project?
JN: The Philharmonic is a drama and a melodrama
I feel that it's a project that demonstrates an innovative arrangement of a room on a musical level
a room that successfully defends the use of inside space as well as its emphasis on musical symbolism
they've done something that's never been done in France since all public buildings are made by a public entity that controls the use of funds
This project was carried out by a private association that decided to hide the rise in cost and
it doesn't really feel that way because I'm used to suffering when it comes to my profession
I'm here to defend the pleasure of all music lovers and the artistic aspirations that all of the children will have
I'm going to fight to the end in order to settle this so that the building is completed correctly and no one accuses me of any atrocities about the way in which it was finished
or about the public spaces that surround it
I'm involved in one of the toughest battles of my life
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“Brigands: The Quest for Gold” (season 1) is a period drama set in the 19th century
The story takes us through the journey of influential people and invaders oppressing the commoner
Among them are the brigands who are united with a mission
They refuse to be oppressed and fight for what is just
Filomena comes from a farming background but is married to a General
The whole army and the village people are looking for Filomena
Sparrowhawk hears about this and decides to join her for his selfish motives
The episode begins with a history of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies in 1860
This is the reason invaders are constantly plundering it
and our narrator fought the war like his own
The people emptied the bank of Palermo as a loan for the war
and the place was filled with death and destruction
but a treasure map and the gold disappeared
Sparrowhawk brings a prisoner and sees hope as the map is found again
Filomena meets the people where she was born
promises to help young Juri from his illness
Sparrowhawk is the best Brigand hunter and is trying to find Don Clemente
Don Clemente shows the map to one of the people from the King’s court
overhears the conversation and suggests training the workers so they will show loyalty
Juri’s mother secretly visits Filomena to get medicine and water
He shoots the woman and pushes Filomena into a well
She says she can never wash away her pheasant smell
Sparrowhawk reaches the office and finds the location of the treasure map
but he tries to open it when he hears Filomena scream
Filomena is angry with Don Clemente and decides to kill him
The guards find Sparrowhawk and arrest him
Sparrowhawk is forced to share a cell with a man he caught
Filomena wakes up the following day with a rifle pointing at her
Fumel (the man from the King’s court/soldier) visits Filomena’s farm
and threatens her family during Juri’s mother’s funeral
The family is unhappy with Filomena and calls her a curse as she always brings trouble
The Brigands tie up Filomena and wonder what to do with her
One of the Brigands sends Celestino on a mission to find out if someone will pay a ransom for her
Celestino finds out about her husband’s death and her disappearance
Juri finds Celestino and asks him to take him with him as he wants to become a brigand
Sparrowhawk listens to their conversation from inside the prison cell
Fumel tells Sparrowhawk that he is honored to meet him
Sparrowhawk asks him why he hasn’t killed him yet
Fumel tells him that he has planned to send him to Mignano
Sparrowhawk makes a deal and tells Fumel that he will find Filomena and bring her to him
but on one condition: he needs to destroy his portrait and cover up his identity
Sparrowhawk asks to be sent to Mignano anyway to find her
Celestino is back and tells them the bad news that they cannot get any money to return her but tells them that Fumel is looking for her
Juri follows Celestino and tells them he wants to become a brigand
Filomena is tied upside down to a tree and brought down
They give a gun to Juri and ask him to kill Filomena if he wants to become a brigand
Filomena makes a deal and tells them she will provide them with gold
Sparrowhawk manages to untie himself as the prisoners are moved to Mignano
He kills the guards and is about to kill the prisoners he shares a cell with
They show a symbol on their hand and ask him if he is also looking for gold
Filomena meets Juri’s mother’s brother and gives him a ring
and tells them she wants to be a woman brigand
The episode begins with Peitro and the brigand gang pulling Juri and Filomena out of coffins
They go through an initiation process to join the brigand
The brigand tells her not to keep any secrets between them; this is her family now
Fumel wonders how no one could have seen Filomena
Filomena lights a matchstick and sees the treasure map
He also overhears Cicci and Pietro having sex
Cicci does not trust Filomena as she is a foreigner
they can kill her or give her to Fumel’s men
Ventre and Manzo are afraid to enter Mignano but give in
They disguise themselves as people delivering food for the prisoners and staff and manage to enter Mignano
Sparrowhawk takes Cosimo Giordano in as his prisoner
He tells the guards he is helping out the soldiers and bribes them to let him choose the cell Giordano needs to be put in
Sparrowhawk enters and finds a cell with an old man
He provokes the old man and tells him that he is a brigand and that he can prove it to him
Sparrowhawk then kills the guard and rescues the old man
He then meets Manzo and Ventre and asks the old man to hide inside the cart and play dead
and Sparrowhawk starts killing the guards one after the other
Cosimo Giordano frees himself and starts alarming the guards
Cicci takes Filomena to meet with Pace and trains her on how to use a rifle
and she finds Luigi (Juri’s uncle) and frees the three men
but he does not keep his promise nor deliver enough gunpowder
Cicci tries to trade Luigi for the gunpowder
saying the fastest one to reload a rifle wins and gets what they want
but Cicci steps in and gives him her jewelry in exchange for Filomena
She thanks Cicci for saving her and showing her the map
and Cicci tells them Filomena cannot read the map
but the brigands show up and loot the tax money
Filomena also kills one of the soldiers when Juri cannot bring himself to do it
They are interrupted as Sparrowhawk comes to meet the brigands
It turns out the man he rescued is Pietro’s father
and he asks for Filomena in exchange for paying off the debts
Pace’s leader arrives and tells Luigi and the others that they are part of Guerra Gang brigands from now on
They further say that they should not fear the heart of the storm and that they are fighting for freedom
Antonio Pietro’s father insists they leave for their hometown immediately as they are not a match for Fumel
Cicci tells the gang they must save Filomena
Filomena realizes it is for the map and has nothing to do with her
and Sparrowhawk asks her to give him the map
She asks him for the feather he is holding onto
and he reveals that it’s the treasure from the South
They decide to go there together as she is the only person to take him to it
She reveals the location and visits her brother Nino to tell him the news
Fumel keeps his promise to Sparrowhawk and destroys his picture
Sparrowhawk digs into the location that Filomena has revealed to him but finds nothing
Fumel treats Filomena well and rewards Piccolo’s family with an ox for cooperating with them
He promises Filomena that he will take her to the North once they find the treasure and gives her a day to decide
The father is tortured into revealing the Monaco brigand location
and Ventre are captured and taken to prison
Juri sees Filomena captured and jumps on the cart
She asks him to warn the Monaco brigand’s family that Fumel is coming for them
The guards abruptly stop their cart as the checkposts are empty
Sparrowhawk comes to Filomena’s rescue
He tells her she gave the wrong location and needs her to find the treasure
Cicci convinces the gang that they need to avenge Filomena because the brigands are the reason for her capture
Filomena tells Sparrowhawk that she needs to do one thing before they leave
Filomena does not show mercy and kills Piccolo
She also tells Sparrowhawk and the brigands to make peace with each other as that’s the only way to be stronger than Fumel
Fumel and the troop visit the woods but can’t find Monaco or Brigand
he visits the village and finds the ox with Piccolo’s head hanging from it
Michelina visits a village with Guerra brigands and asks them to cooperate
The episode begins with a flashback of Filomena and Nino as kids
They are happy for a while until their parents are killed
but Fumel stops the soldier as he intends to use him to bring Filomena to him
Nino tells Fumel that she does not care about anything except money and has abandoned him
Fumel sends a message to the brigands that Nino will be killed in 3 days and that if Filomena surrenders
Pietro tells Filomena that this is Fumel’s technique
He will send someone not to catch but with a message and later keep something close to the person so they can become weak
He will make sure the group turns on each other
Filomena is disturbed after hearing about her brother Nino
She wants to get inside the village and save him
but neither the brigands nor Sparrowhawk cares
Pietro senses that there is a traitor among them when he sees two of their men asleep while on watch
Cicci tries to tell him that nobody is a traitor
He sends Juri and Celestino to find out if there is a traitor
Juri takes him to Lissandra Fumel’s daughter to get information
saying that Monaco cannot even aim properly
Celestino gets angry and demonstrates his skill
She tells him they were only fooling around and cries herself to sleep
Everyone is mourning as they are all losing someone they love
Pietro brings the group together and tells them that some will find the gold and the others must find Fumel and kill him
they realize there aren’t any guards and nobody else is home
The other group starts digging in the location and finds gold
but Pietro shoots one of them and hides inside a cave-like structure
Cicci tears up and asks Filomena where the gold is as she realizes the soldiers might have followed the gold-hunting group
Pietro realizes Salvatore has betrayed them and sends a signal to the soldier when he lit the fires
Salvatore tries to convince Antonio that he did it for the family’s good and that Pietro left him to rot in prison
But Antonio turns around and shoots Salvatore
Sparrowhawk rushes to the meeting place and finds soldiers waiting
Filomena and the group find themselves in front of the soldiers as well
and Michelina sees them from afar and wonders who they are
The episode begins with Michelina sending the deceased into nature
and Juri is doing everything he can to make her feel better
They hear her talk about fighting for a cause
The leader of the stonemaker agrees to cooperate if Michelina lets Maria marry his son
Sparrowhawk notices Cosimo and tries to hide his face under his hat
but Cosimo identifies him and wants to shoot him
Everyone is preparing for Cosimo and Maria’s marriage
Filomena tells Michelina that the gold is with Fumel
Cosimo puts the prisoners against Sparrowhawk and makes him fight them to death
He meets him and tells him that they are no different
Cosimo wants to feel it every time he kills another prisoner
Filomena enjoys her time during the wedding festivities but hears some men and follows the sound
She watches Sparrowhawk fight and is shocked
she sees Cosimo forcing Maria to have sex with him
She yells at Michelina as her words and actions don’t match
Marchetta meets Fumel to get his reward for selling out the Monaco gang
but Cicci stops him and tells him that only traitors must be afraid
Marchetta manipulates Cicci to make her believe that Filomenasold them out
Cosimo’s men put Filomena and Sparrowhawk into the fighting rink
They are not killing each other but hoping the other one does
Maria tells Michelina that she does not want to marry Cosimo
Michelina disguises themselves as Maria and stabs Cosimo
The episode begins with Fumel receiving the gold
Juri spies on the soldiers and the people to get more information
is taken by Guerra brigands and is questioned about Fumel’s movements
he reveals that Fumel is hiding the gold in his church despite his protests
He also mentions that the curfew is at 5 pm
convinces the commoners to fight for freedom
Juri reports back to Cicci about Filomena and how she is with Michelina
Cicci is confident that she has betrayed them
Sparrowhawk and Filomena promise to see each other at 6 pm after the fight
Juri visits Lissandra and asks her to run away with him
Cicci and Marchetta find a house and watch the plaza from the terrace
she realizes Marchetta is the one who betrayed them
and Marchetta stabs Cicci on her arm and runs away
Guerra and others dress as churchgoers and stand outside the church after curfew
Fumel is informed that his daughter is missing
Cicci helps in the battle and shoots Fumel on his legs
She smiles and tells Fumel that they have won
Filomena’s plan was that the cart passing by would distract the chosen men from taking the gold out of the church and leaving
She tells them about a secret passage that leads them to the church crypts from the well
Marchetta arrives at the meeting spot and provokes Juri
Sparrowhawk stops the cart and asks the men to get down
He takes their weapon and shoots one of Guerra’s men
Sparrowhawk asks Ventre and Manzo to stay with him
Filomena is mad at Sparrowhawk and Cicci consoles her
and that man picks up a feather and says the bird is free
The ending indicates the loan is being returned to the owner
The mysterious woman is held and is precious to Sparrowhawk
which explains why he has always been interested in gold and nothing else
we might see Filomena getting vengeance on Sparrowhawk
Filomena holding the feather may indicate that she will find him and get revenge
Sparrowhawk managed to betray everyone in the end to achieve his goal
you'll find me exploring the world with my camera in hand
I believe that life is one big adventure waiting to be experienced
Designed by Two Words
Throughout the five episodes of Brigands: The Quest for Gold
we’ve learned that the real goal isn’t just about the gold itself
taking away not only their rights but also the gold rightfully belonging to Palermo
it’s time to take that gold back and restore justice to the South
a Southern girl herself who escaped her rich lifestyle
she’s the one destined to save the South
these unlikely allies have formed a strong alliance to reclaim the stolen gold and free the people of the South from oppression
Let’s dive into the thrilling last finale of Brigands: The Quest for Gold to find out
we saw Pietro and his father go in search of the gold
only to be shot and hanged to death by the Piedmontese men
you can imagine that the loss was devastating
Ciccilla discovered their bodies hanging from the cave where they were supposed to find the gold
Filomena had been chasing the gold from the start
Could she have struck a deal with Fumel’s men
Maybe if she reveal them the location of the gold then maybe they will release her brother
But the real traitor wasn’t Filomena—it was Marchetta
His plan was to turn the group against Filomena because he never wanted her in the group to begin with
When Ciccilla realized that Marchetta was the true betrayer
How could a trusted member of their clan turn against them
Ciccilla wanted to kill Marchetta on the spot but couldn’t bring herself to do it
the young boy who had joined the Monacos had become friends with Fumel’s daughter
He knew that the only way to get to Fumel was to lure his daughter out of the castle and escape with her
and to not be afraid to kill Fumel’s daughter
But Jurillo valued his friendship with her more than listening to a traitor
they realized that their aspirations could be transformed into a reality
They decided that it was time for the women to lead the others and that they were no longer going to be labeled as weak and judged solely for their beauty
They were determined to take risks and fight for their cause
They joined forces with a Piedmontese priest named Don Orlando
who knew the location where Fumel had hidden the gold
since he was a man of the cloth and did not believe in war
he soon realized that their aim was to save the impoverished Southerners from the oppression of the wealthy Piedmontese
They were sick and tired of being oppressed
Don Orlando then told the secret that the gold was concealed in an armored stagecoach in the church
and Fumel had implemented a curfew of 5 PM
making it impossible for any outsider to enter the land after that time
Filomena knew of a passage through the cave of the church that they could use to remove the gold from the church
Michelina and Filomena were going to lead the war party
while Sparrowhawk and his team would extract the gold from the church
Although nobody else trusted Sparrowhawk since he was a bounty hunter
Filomena believed in him and his intentions to save the North
and that was sufficient for her to trust her man
Fumel and his men were ready for the striking of clock so that all the Southerners could go back to their homes
Fumel’s men informed him that his daughter had escaped
Sparrowhawk removed the gold from the church and left the premises in a cart
Ciccilla arrived at the scene and was eager to join Filomena’s cause
She shoots Fumel’s leg to injure him so that he can not hurt anyone else and as to leave the sight of battle
we saw Filomena and Ciccilla fleeing from the area; Fumel was not defeated but injured
Michelina could not run away; she became his captive
Fumel realized that the gold had been taken away
Filomena waited at their pre-planned location for Sparrowhawk to arrive with the gold cart to save the Southerners
they had become victorious in the war against the Piedmontese
In Brigands: The Quest for Gold‘s ending
he turned out to be the treacherous man we kind of suspected he was all along
Even though he acted all in love with Filomena
he told Francesco Guerra to escape before he started shooting
saving a woman with the gold—maybe his true love
we can expect Sparrowhawk to now be Filomena’s enemy
she’s ready to fight her enemies and get that gold back to save the South
Through the course of the six episodes, the Monacos, Felomina, Michelina (Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz), and Schiavone (Marlon Joubert) aka Sparrowhawk set aside their differences and unite to battle Fumel (Pietro Micci) and locate the gold that will help them liberate their land
the final episode of the series has left some viewers looking for answers
we address what happened at the end of 'Brigands: The Quest for Gold'.
Felomina devises a clever plan to steal the gold away from Fumel
After discovering that the gold is kept in a church at the center of the city
along with Michelina and the other brigands will keep Fumel occupied in a chaotic gunfight outside the church while Schiavone and Francesco Guerra (Giulio Beranek) sneak into the church through a secret underground passage known only to Felomina
The plan is executed to perfection as Schiavone and Guerra steal the gold while the battle serves as a distraction
The brigands retreat as soon as Maria rings the bell
Michelina is portrayed as the woman meant to liberate the brigand's land in the series
She is the respected leader of the pack and one who makes the decisions.
She fights bravely in the final battle outside the church
Her fate remains uncertain at the end of the first season
It will be intriguing to see what the future holds for her if there is a second season of this series
Schiavone aka Sparrowhawk is a character driven by his pursuit of the coveted Palermo gold
Despite spending the last few years as a bounty hunter
his ultimate desire is to possess the gold
the writers have subtly hinted at Sparrowhawk's trustworthiness
when he saves Felomina and commits to the cause of the brigands
it appears that he might have experienced a genuine change of heart
he reveals that the gold matters to him more than anything else
Sparrowhawk turns against Guerra and the rest of the brigands
His intentions are revealed when he uses the gold to liberate a woman who seems to be his lover.
'Brigands: The Quest for Gold' aka 'Briganti' is streaming on Netflix from April 23
Bandidos was the last Netflix Mexico original that dealt with a group of people on the hunt to find ancient gold from an obscure place after laboriously going through many obstacles based on an ancient map
Heist shows are the current rage and also a genre that is being overused
The new Netflix Italian show Brigands: The Quest for Gold is a historical drama that talks about a band of thieves from centuries ago looking for gold whose existence was supposed to be a myth
This six-episode series had a run time of forty minutes to over fifty minutes each
This bizarre show began with a bunch of brigands of southern Italy centuries ago rebelling against the crown
terrorized villages and ambushed the crown’s army at unexpected places
claimed to know of a certain map that would take them to a chest of gold that was historically taken from the Bank of Palermo during a period of local civil unrest
and history claims it to have disappeared from the face of the earth
there was a wild prophecy spreading around the southern part of Italy about a woman who would free all of them from the invaders
She had been going from town to town fighting for her cause
and there was a poster of hers being posted everywhere with the word ‘Freedom’ on it
a bounty hunter named Sparrowhawk was hired to not just capture Filomena
Sparrowhawk might even know something about the gold
but his hunger for a quick buck could drive him to rat out the so-called enemies of the state
Could Filomena help them reach the treasure
Did Sparrowhawk eventually become a part of the brigands
Was there any truth to the prophecy about the woman liberating the South
Brigands: The Quest for Gold on Netflix was unbearable for many reasons
and one of them has to be that the makers of the show randomly began it without explaining the context or the timeline it was set in
there was so much emphasis on the style quotient that the substance had no weight all the way to the end
The screenplay and story were bizarre to the point that it took three episodes to understand the premise
and by the time the show was halfway through
it got weirder with new subplots and its inconclusive endings
Period drama as a genre usually has to explain the premise in depth so that we get to know the characters and their motivations to carry out any act
The fight between the brigands and the army of the king was not structured well
and pure animosity was the only emotion that was fueling the story
The names of the characters were scattered and confusing
as the narrative does not do a good job of explaining their roles in the grand scheme of things
The screenplay was filled with random subplots and storytelling
which took a bizarre turn in the last two episodes as events kept happening with no explanation of any sort
The oddly constructed screenplay was the reason why the show struggled to entertain
The heist genre was supposed to keep people on their toes
many could not wait for the show to end because
the makers not only kept introducing new characters out of nowhere
but there was no explanation as to what exactly transpired in the climax of the show
Are the viewers supposed to be waiting for season two
Deaths were included in the narrative just for shock value
The screenplay and the story could have been set in the current timeline
it wouldn’t have made sense because it needed emotions
which were lacking from the start until the end
The show had some excellent direction and cinematography
but the bad writing of the central characters caused a major hindrance to these important technical marvels
Brigands: The Quest for Gold ended up having some great action set pieces followed by brilliant direction by Antonio Le Fosse
it went into the waste bin because the narration could not hold itself
Benjamin Maier’s excellent cinematography required a better story
and it never did justice to the visuals and the colors in the show
It could be compared to the latest Malayalam film
“Malaikottai Vaaliban,” which had some crazy experimentation when it came to direction and cinematography
but the screenplay was too wafer thin to admire
Viewers were perplexed and kept waiting for a showdown
but it was very predictable and outlandish
The writers hardly dedicated any time to any character arc to witness their growth
A graph would have helped people come to terms with understanding their motivation for their decisions in the show
The brigands were like the Robin Hoods of Italy
while the army of the crown were the only bad people with zero redemption arc
These characters had only surface-level conflicts
but it was hardly explored to pick apart their inner thoughts and conflicts
in a subplot involving the leader of the gang Monaco
Pietro had a harsh and complicated relationship with his father; the elderly man throughout the show had admonished him for not being the right leader
the father figure had a change of heart and took his son’s side with no explanation whatsoever
There was also a wedding scenario that seemed like a low-priced version of The Red Wedding from Game of Thrones
another random subplot that was not required
The build-up to the Sparrowhawk and the woman who would fulfill the prophecy was a classic example of the lazy execution of an important subplot
There was no explanation as to why the Brits dressed in a certain way or what their history was
The production design and the costume department needed to be lauded
but all of them could not shoulder the show as the viewers wanted to be more engaged in the plot than the sets and the clothes
There were plenty of characters in the show
The show was maddening and tiresome after a point
The show could have spent time scripting well-defined heist shows instead of letting all of them lose
Bad characterization also led to hardly impressive performances
The show had many strong female characters
but the writers and the makers hardly spent time on them to explain why they stood out from the rest of them
The antagonist was out and out negative with no redemptive quality
The actor looked more like a Bond villain than a character from the past who was wearing tea shades throughout the show
Not sure how era-appropriate the sunglasses were
The performances were severely affected by a shaky and confusing screenplay
which sadly never elevated any actors or their sincere efforts to stand out
Brigands: The Quest for Gold was a huge letdown from Netflix Italy
and the makers offered a dull show that could be skipped
Contains spoilers for 'Brigands: The Quest for Gold'
PALERMO, ITALY: Netflix's latest period adventure series, 'Brigands: The Quest for Gold,' delivers an enthralling conclusion in its six-episode run
The hunt for gold leads to an epic battle between the brigands and General Fumel (Pietro Micci)
and startling revelations share an equal spotlight in the episode
we see love blossoming between Giuseppe Schiavone aka Sparrowhawk (Marlon Joubert) and Filomena (Michela De Rossi)
Their stolen moments are some of the heartwarming scenes in the series
the ultimate betrayal by Sparrowhawk in the series finale episode leaves Filomena heartbroken
The gang of brigands along with Sparrowhawk put their plan into action and manage to steal the gold from the church
Sparrowhawk betrays the team and runs away with the gold
she vows vengeance as she declares that she now wants him dead
In the final moments of the series
we see Sparrowhawk bringing the gold to Carmine Crocco
the identity of the woman remains a mystery
leaving viewers wondering about the relationship shared between both
especially Filomena and Michelina (Matilda Lutz)
it would reveal Sparrowhawk's true motives and his relationship with the woman he has liberated
'Brigands: The Quest for Gold' is now available to stream on Netflix