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Netflix’s new period drama mixes elements of Sherlock Holmes and feminism. Let’s break down the trailer.
The Law According to Lidia Poët is Netflix’s new period drama. Set in the mid-19th century, the drama will follow the real-life story of Italy’s first female lawyer, Lidia Poët. The show will have six episodes for its first season. It is directed by Matteo Rovere and Letizia Lamartire.
Netflix’s catalog for 2023, so far has been impressive and The Law According to Lidia Poët, which shows hints of a murder mystery and societal commentary in its trailer will be a quality addition to the same. The show’s cast includes Matilda De Angelis in the role of Lidia Poët and Pierluigi Pasino in the role of Enrico Poët. Other cast members include Sara Lazzaro, Dario Aita, and Eduardo Scarpetta.
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From the trailer, one thing is certain: there is no place for a female lawyer in 19th-century Italy. Not only that, but it also represents the true image of the patriarchal society that forbade women from working in jobs originally made for men. And sadly, this stays not just the story of the past but also of many countries’ cruel present. The show will not only portray the picture of a cruel past but also indicate the cruel present.
In the trailer, Lidia Poët is very well discriminated against as a female lawyer, her competence is questioned solely because of her gender. It shows two women looking for a lawyer and go to her knowing she would charge less than a man. They do not value whether Lidia is capable, what only matters is how much she would potentially charge them.
Following this, a newspaper headline clearly states, “Disbarred for being a woman,” foreshadowing what’s to come. According to the official synopsis, the official ruling by the Turin Court of Appeals is that Lidia Poët is barred from practicing law. She secures a job at her brother’s law firm but still finds it hard to find her place in society as a female lawyer. The trailer paints a detailed picture of what the show might contain, which is distinct tones of a feminist narrative specifically through the character of Lidia Poët. It shows a world where more than one’s capability, class and gender held precedence. In the trailer as well, Lidia Poët insists that she can win the case she has received despite being a woman, but her brother seems to persistently disagree and question her abilities.
The following frames show two narratives, one is Lidia Poët’s personal life, and the other, the dominant one, is her working to solve the case, where she is the defense for a man acquitted of murder. She has to work her way through the case to prove that her client is innocent while also knowing that she is intellectually alone. While working on the case, she is adamant about proving not just the innocence of her client but also her competence as a lawyer. Everyone, specifically the men in the same field and her family want her to stop.
But she goes on, from investigating new suspects to not falling short of raising her hand to win. Because an important statement to note from the trailer is that Lidia doesn’t “know her place,” a common statement to push women down when they try to cross a line drawn to cage them in a circle of limited opportunities.
Lidia’s Private Life
On the other hand, she seems to have some sort of liberty in her personal affairs as opposed to professional affairs where she is considered to be of a lower intelligence level due to her gender identity. Multiple clips in the trailer hint towards Lidia’s complex romantic life which might or might not interfere with her work. Apart from this, the trailer continues to show intense scenes of her investigating the murder. Though it ends with a note-worthy statement asking Lidia if she has ever felt the judgment of a man upon her. She just responds in affirmative but concludes by saying that that judgment is yet to change who she is. On a whole, the trailer is enticing and gives an ambiguous idea of what the story is, but at the same time does not give away anything at the crux of the entire plot.
From the looks of the trailer and the official synopsis, the show seems promising. The actors seem to suit their roles well. Moreover, the addition of the elements of a murder mystery to the story of Lidia Poët, Italy’s first female lawyer, adds a tinge of unexpected color to the story drawing in more prospective viewers to this period drama. And if this show does justice to the story of Lidia Poët and to the added elements of mystery, it will be a success.
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