An earlier (the sole, in fact) reviewer of this series suggested that one should approach this 3-part series as an illustrated text rather than a film. S/He was so right! I would speculate that most people should pass on buying this set. Yes, Rosellini's costumes and sets are wonderful. Nearly every frame would make a frame-able painting. And the the daily life details -- the wet horse-dung in the streets, the general filthy conditions of the period, the exquisite artisan-ship of garments for the wealthy -- are sublime.
But this series is filled wall-to-wall with dense, rapid dialog in Italian. It's nearly impossible to follow with English subtitles. And the characters just start to blend into a smear by the end of the first episode. There is virtually nothing to break the series out of its yak-yak-yak drone, historically significant though it may be.
I think even Italians will have a great challenge to remain conscious for this series.
But this series is filled wall-to-wall with dense, rapid dialog in Italian. It's nearly impossible to follow with English subtitles. And the characters just start to blend into a smear by the end of the first episode. There is virtually nothing to break the series out of its yak-yak-yak drone, historically significant though it may be.
I think even Italians will have a great challenge to remain conscious for this series.