Despite my painfully broke state I ventured south to Dundrum on Monday night to catch what I’d heard was a decidedly average attempt (Valentino: The Last Emperor) at encapsulating the life and work of couturier and Italian legend Valentino Garavani. As a film student/Dublin-dweller it’d be pretty poor if I didn’t make it to at least one screening of the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival…
Unfprtunately I can’t recall who it was exactly that misinformed me but if I could you can rest assured they’d receive a good scolding if I did. Not only was this cinematic portrait of a relentlessly demanding, incessantly witty and inarguably grandiose workaholic above average, it was that and some.
The recurrent red weaved so beautifully into the cinematography, the opportunity to witness the subtle (and not so subtle – that pink, sequin-tastic ensemble) details of the embodiments of this man’s vision (and the toil of the seamstresses who incidentally handsew everything) and the endearing banter and affecting tension between Giancarlo Giametti (Valentino’s self-professed lover and business partner) and the man himself combine to make this film truly enjoyable.
Particularly incentivizing are the quips of Kaiser Karl and some of Valentino’s uproariously funny, slightly fattist remarks.
Image from Valentino the Movie.
I don’t really like Valentino, but i like your blog…(!)
^ I’m far from an avid fan myself, but the film, fortunately, had more to it than just product-placing his clothing…thank you for your warm compliment!/Male Mode.
such a good designer and wicked shot !!