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Characters & Themes

Loro (2019) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 158 min · Italian
Echo score 70
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Directed by
Paolo Sorrentino
Starring
Kasia Smutniak, Anna Bonaiuto, Dario Cantarelli, Elena Sofia Ricci, Euridice Axen, Fabrizio Bentivoglio
Budget
$21M

During the 2000s in Italy, the controversial Silvio Berlusconi held significant power, navigating a world of excess, scandal, and corruption. A resourceful young man named Sergio sees a chance to advance his own position by ingratiating himself with the former Prime Minister. He becomes entangled in Berlusconi’s complex and morally ambiguous inner circle, witnessing firsthand the excesses and intrigues that define his reign.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (6)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Loro
  8. 8 Every angle
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6 main characters · contains spoilers

Loro Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Loro (2019), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Sergio Morra

    played by Riccardo Scamarcio

    Sergio is depicted as a cunning and ambitious character who leverages his influence to navigate the complexities of Italian politics. His secretive operations illustrate his willingness to engage in moral ambiguity to achieve success. Morra embodies the characteristics of a modern-day schemer, driven by the allure of power and recognition.

    • 🕵️‍♂️ Manipulative
    • 💪 Ambitious
  • Kira

    played by Kasia Smutniak

    Kira is an enigmatic and captivating figure with ties to high-profile politics. Her allure and charm position her as a pivotal character who navigates the treacherous waters of power and ambition. Kira's desire for acceptance and recognition complicates her interactions, showcasing her vulnerability beneath her confident exterior.

    • 👑 Enigmatic
    • 💃 Charming
  • Tamara

    played by Euridice Axen

    Tamara is characterized by her fearless spirit and unwavering loyalty to Sergio. She embodies a sense of empowerment and determination as she supports their ambitions in a corrupt world. Her charm and wit make her a key player in the unfolding drama, as she skillfully navigates political rivalries.

    • 🔥 Fearless
    • 🎉 Charismatic
  • Silvio Berlusconi

    played by Toni Servillo

    Berlusconi is portrayed as a complex political figure grappling with personal and professional challenges. His struggle to maintain control amidst shifting allegiances and scandals reveals the burdens of leadership. The character's vulnerabilities are laid bare as he seeks to reconcile his ambitions with his faltering marriage.

    • 💔 Vulnerable
    • 🚨 Powerful
  • Veronica Lario

    played by Elena Sofia Ricci

    Veronica is depicted as a strong-willed and independent woman facing the turmoil of her marriage to a powerful politician. Her emotional distance and rejection of Berlusconi's advances highlight her resilience. Veronica's character provides insight into the personal sacrifices made by those caught in the web of political ambition.

    • 💪 Independent
    • ❤️ Resilient
  • Santino Recchia

    played by Fabrizio Bentivoglio

    Santino serves as a seasoned and strategic politician, driven by ambition yet entwined in moral dilemmas. His attempts to unseat Berlusconi illustrate the precarious balancing act of power dynamics in politics. Recchia's character reflects the complexities of alliances and betrayals within governmental corridors.

    • 👔 Strategic
    • 🤔 Ambitious

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:24

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Setting

Where and When Does Loro Take Place?

The setting of Loro (2019): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Modern era

The story unfolds in the modern political landscape of Italy, showcasing the interpersonal dynamics and scandals that characterize contemporary governance. It reflects the socio-political climate during the 21st century, highlighting issues like corruption, media influence, and personal shortcomings of those in power.

Location

Taranto, Rome, Sardinia, Naples

The film is set primarily in Taranto, a sun-kissed city known for its rich history and bustling port. The narrative shifts to Rome, the vibrant capital of Italy, emblematic of political power and intrigue. Sardinia serves as a picturesque backdrop, featuring extravagant villas and luxurious lifestyles, while Naples is highlighted as a city associated with romance and tension.

  • 🏙️ City
  • 🏖️ Beach
  • 🌍 Region
  • 🏛️ Capital

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:24

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3 major themes

Loro Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Loro (2019) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Ambition

    Ambition drives the characters to pursue power and influence through questionable means. Sergio and Tamara's relentless quest for acceptance within high society illustrates the lengths individuals will go to in order to achieve their goals. The juxtaposition of personal desires against political machinations reveals the often destructive nature of ambition.

  • Deception

    Deception courses through the narrative, as characters constantly hide their true intentions and motives. The mechanics of manipulation are revealed, particularly through the political maneuvering surrounding Berlusconi and his adversaries. This theme emphasizes the precariousness of trust in both personal and political relationships.

  • Romance

    Romance intertwines with political ambitions as personal relationships are tested by greed and betrayal. Berlusconi's struggle for emotional connection with his wife contrasts with his political dealings. This theme reflects how personal lives can complicate and undermine public personas, exposing vulnerabilities amidst the chaos.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:24

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Character & theme questions

Loro Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Loro (2019): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Loro set?

The film is set primarily in Taranto, a historic port city in southern Italy. The story also shifts to Rome, the capital representing political power, and Sardinia, where extravagant villas showcase the luxurious lifestyle of the elite. Naples appears as a city associated with romance and tension.

  • Taranto
  • Rome
  • Sardinia
  • Naples
  • Italian cities
  • setting
Q2

When does Loro take place?

Loro is set during the 2000s in Italy, specifically in the modern era of Italian politics. The film captures the contemporary socio-political climate characterized by corruption, media influence, and the scandals that defined that period.

  • 2000s
  • modern era
  • Italy
  • political era
  • time period
Q3

What are the main themes in Loro?

Loro explores three major themes: Ambition, as characters pursue power through questionable means; Deception, with characters constantly hiding their true intentions in political maneuvering; and Romance, which intertwines with political ambitions as personal relationships are tested by greed and betrayal.

  • ambition
  • deception
  • romance
  • themes
  • political corruption
Q4

Who is Silvio Berlusconi in Loro?

Silvio Berlusconi is portrayed as a complex political figure struggling with personal and professional challenges. He grapples with maintaining control amidst scandals while trying to reconcile his political ambitions with his faltering marriage to Veronica Lario.

  • Silvio Berlusconi
  • politician
  • prime minister
  • character
Q5

Who is Sergio Morra in the film?

Sergio Morra is a cunning and ambitious character who leverages his influence to navigate Italian political circles. He embodies a modern-day schemer, driven by the allure of power and recognition, engaging in moral ambiguity to achieve success.

  • Sergio Morra
  • ambitious character
  • schemer
  • power
Q6

What is Kira's role in Loro?

Kira is an enigmatic and captivating figure with ties to high-profile politics. Her charm and desire for acceptance make her a pivotal character who navigates the treacherous waters of power, showcasing vulnerability beneath her confident exterior.

  • Kira
  • character role
  • political figure
  • mystery
Q7

Who is Veronica Lario in the movie?

Veronica Lario is Berlusconi's wife, depicted as a strong-willed and independent woman facing the turmoil of her marriage to a powerful politician. Her emotional distance and rejection of Berlusconi's advances highlight her resilience in the face of political ambition.

  • Veronica Lario
  • Berlusconi wife
  • resilience
  • character
Q8

How does Loro portray political corruption?

Loro presents an unflinching portrayal of power's corrupting influence through the mechanics of manipulation in Berlusconi's inner circle. The film shows how trust becomes precarious in both personal and political relationships, reflecting systemic corruption in Italian governance.

  • political corruption
  • power
  • manipulation
  • government
Q9

Who is Tamara in Loro?

Tamara is characterized by her fearless spirit and unwavering loyalty to Sergio. She embodies empowerment and determination, using her charm and wit to navigate political rivalries as they pursue their ambitions in Berlusconi's corrupt world.

  • Tamara
  • loyalty
  • supporting character
  • ambition
Q10

Who is Santino Recchia in Loro?

Santino Recchia is a seasoned politician driven by ambition but entangled in moral dilemmas. He attempts to unseat Berlusconi, illustrating the precarious balancing act of power dynamics and the complexities of alliances and betrayals within political corridors.

  • Santino Recchia
  • politician
  • power struggle
  • alliances
Q11

What is the tone of Loro?

Loro has a dark tone with a satirical edge, presenting an unflinching portrayal of power's corrupting influence, sexual exploitation, and hollow personal relationships. The steady pacing allows the film to unfold as a series of calculated maneuvers and personal betrayals.

  • tone
  • dark
  • mood
  • satire
  • film style

Movie threads

More Movies Like Loro, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Loro tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Power and corruption dramas like Loro

Movies that delve into the amoral inner circles of the powerful. If you liked the cynical portrayal of Silvio Berlusconi's world in Loro, explore these other movies about political corruption and abuse of power. This list features dramas that reveal the moral decay and scandalous excess within the inner circles of the influential.

  • cynical
  • satirical
  • disillusioned
  • corrosive
  • opulent
  • jaded
  • Tone: dark, satirical, cynical
  • Pacing: steady, episodic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread often follow an observer or aspirant who gains access to a powerful figure's inner circle, only to become disillusioned by the moral compromises, transactional relationships, and sheer emptiness they witness. The narrative unfolds as a series of revealing episodes rather than a single plot-driven thriller.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together for their shared dark, satirical tone and heavy emotional weight derived from examining the corrupting nature of power. They feature a steady, observational pacing and a mixed or bleak ending feel that underscores the theme of disillusionment.

Movies about moral decay and excess like Loro

Stories set in worlds of extreme wealth that highlight spiritual emptiness. Fans of Loro's portrayal of opulent corruption will appreciate these films about moral decay and disillusionment. Discover similar stories where extreme wealth and power lead to emptiness, scandal, and the breakdown of personal relationships.

  • decadent
  • opulent
  • disillusioned
  • jaded
  • corrosive
  • cynical
  • Tone: dark, corrosive, disillusioned
  • Pacing: steady, atmospheric
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves characters initially seduced by a world of luxury and influence, only to find themselves trapped in a cycle of emptiness and compromised values. The journey is one of gradual disillusionment, where the promised rewards of excess reveal themselves to be hollow.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific mood blend of opulence and decay, combining visually rich settings with dark, cynical themes. The experience is defined by a heavy emotional weight, a steady pacing that allows the atmosphere of decay to sink in, and a mixed or bleak conclusion.

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Movies Like Loro

Similar movies to Loro: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Loro (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Loro in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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