How a 14th-century literary classic became a 2007 romantic comedy with a sexy cow
In short: Virgin Territory reimagines Giovanni Boccaccio's The Decameron as a bawdy, sword-swinging romp set against the backdrop of the Black Death. Directed by David Leland and produced by Dino De Laurentiis, the film trades the original's storytelling structure for a chaotic mix of romance, gambling, and randy nuns in Florence.
Released in 2007, Virgin Territory was the final production from the legendary Dino De Laurentiis. The film, which carried a reported budget of $38 million, was written and directed by David Leland and filmed in Italy. Its development saw several working titles, including The Decameron, Chasing Temptation, and Guilty Pleasures, before settling on its final name. The international release was equally varied, appearing as Medieval Pie: Territoires Vierges in France and Decameron Pie in Italy.
The plot centers on Pampinea, the daughter of a wealthy merchant who dies as the story begins. Her inheritance is immediately threatened by Gerbino De Ratta, a local thug who claims her father was in debt to seize her fortune. To escape his grasp, Pampinea flees to a convent, where she encounters Lorenzo, a gambler hiding from Gerbino by posing as a deaf and dumb gardener. The convent setting provides the film with its most unconventional elements, including a series of sexual encounters between Lorenzo and the nuns, and the presence of a notable cow.
The narrative complexity deepens with the arrival of Count Dzerzhinsky, a suitor from the Novgorod Republic who is betrothed to Pampinea. Through a series of misunderstandings—including Elissa, Pampinea's best friend, posing as the bride-to-be—the characters navigate a web of jealousy and mistaken identity. The film culminates in a confrontation at the mansion where Gerbino meets his end in a deep well, allowing Lorenzo and Pampinea to finally unite. Despite its historical setting, the film prioritizes slapstick and romance over the source material's somber context, featuring a cast that includes Hayden Christensen, Mischa Barton, and Tim Roth as the villainous Gerbino.
While the film draws its inspiration from Boccaccio's 14th-century work, it deviates significantly from the original's structure. Instead of ten young people sharing stories to pass the time during the plague, the characters engage in active, often absurd, adventures. The production was released theatrically in France in December 2007, while American audiences received a direct-to-DVD release in August 2008.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Virgin Territory
- Also: Wikidata — Virgin Territory · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Virgin Territory · CC0
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