The house French has presented some of its productions in this edition and has accompanied numerous stars, certifying a permanent dialogue with the Seventh Art.
Gabriel Chanel first traveled to Hollywood in 1930, invited by producer Samuel Goldwyn. She had a mission: to design ball gowns for Gloria Swanson. That first meeting was nothing more than the beginning of a beautiful relationship between the designer and the world of cinema that continues to this day. Her presence at the recently completed edition of the Cannes Film Festival is further proof of this.
Over the decades we have seen the imprint of the house French in the wardrobe of Jeanne Moreau in ‘Elevator to the Gallows’ (Louis Malle, 1957), the black chiffon veil worn by Delphine Seyrig in ‘Last Year in Marienbad’ (Alain Resnais, 1961) or the style of Kristen Stewart in ‘Personal shopper’ (Olivier Assayas, 2016) and ‘Spencer’ (Pablo Larraín, 2021). She has recently created six spectacular dresses for Jeanne du Barry (Maïwenn, 2023) the film starring the director herself and Johnny Depp, in the role of King Louis XV, which opened in Cannes on May 16.
A firm commitment to production
Chanel’s commitment to the Seventh Art goes far beyond the wardrobe of its stars, and is manifested in many different ways, including production. This is the case of ‘Little Girl Blue’, the fifth feature film by Franco-Moroccan Mona Achache starring Marion Cotillard and which was presented in the Special Screenings section. The actress plays the filmmaker’s own mother in a film exercise that seeks to bring to light and understand the shadows of a woman whose voice, like so many, was never heard. “I am interested in the search, I am moved by the tormented souls that seek and try to understand each other in order to heal”, explains the protagonist about this project that seals the commitment of the fashion house for feminine gazes and relevant stories in today’s film industry.
His productions also include ‘Room 999’ documentary directed by the also actress Lubna Playoust in which Win Wenders reflects on the future of cinema with 16 filmmakers, among them Asghar Farhadi, Claire Denis, David Cronenberg or Oliver Assayas.
The dialogue between Chanel and the cinema has never been as intense as it is now. The house collaborates closely with institutions such as the Hollywood Academy of Cinematographic Sciences, as well as the French Cinematheque and the MOMA in New York. In addition, she participates in festivals such as the Deauville American Film Festival, the Villa Medici Film Festival at the Tribeca Festival through the program that supports the new generations of female filmmakers ‘Through Her Lens: The Tribeca CHANEL Women’s Filmmaker Program’ and the FIRST International Film Festival in Xining, China. The fashion house also supports the free Kourtrajmé film school, founded by filmmaker Ladj Ly.
His work in the conservation and restoration of works of art from the history of cinematography is also remarkable.
Source: Fotogramas
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
