Director: Frédéric Tcheng
Running time: 90 minutes
Featuring: Raf Simons, Jennifer Lawrence, Marion Cotillard, Anna Wintour, Sharon Stone, Sidney Toledano, Pieter Mulier
Synopsis: Documentary following Dior’s new creative director Raf Simons, as he puts together his first couture collection in just eight weeks.
There is an art to fashion and this is made very clear through Frédéric Tcheng intimate portrayal of Raf Simons first haute couture collection. Dior is iconic and the film offers us a privileged peek inside its creative hub, following the highs and lows of making an artful collection, whilst recording the journey of new Creative Director Simons.
Tcheng is no stranger to fashion documentaries, previous works include DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL and VALENTINO: THE LAST EMPEROR. They’ve created a masterful piece that pays homage to the fashion house and under his expert direction, the film beautifully entwines Raf’s modern vision and creative process alongside narrative excerpts from Christian Dior’s memoirs. These short pieces resonate with a present relevance, where it’s hard not to appreciate the reflective nature of Dior’s memoir to Raf’s journey.
DIOR AND I welcomes audiences with a behind-the-scenes look at how they create a collection within the brief timeframe of eight weeks. From the seamstresses working at the Atelier right through the process to Raf, he proves his worth in continuing the legacy of the powerhouse fashion brand. Often the focus is only on the designer and so we forget the effort in forging such masterful pieces are actually from the hands of a group of highly-skilled, passionate and dedicated people.
As well as focusing on the modern visions of a new designer, there is also an element of remembering the history of the house and learning about the exhausting pressure there is to continue the Dior legacy. Tcheng presents a colourful and enlightening homage to the history whilst remaining current. The film is not purely for fashion lovers; there is an art in creating these intricate and delicate pieces that transcends that boundary.
Tcheng expertly chronicles not only the fashion but the process of idea to execution. You walk away with a profound appreciation for the time, effort and love poured into every stitched thread. DIOR AND I is not to be missed.
[usr=5] DIOR AND I is in cinemas now from Dogwoof. For further details, click here.
