Lagerfeld. Confidential

“When I took over Chanel, it was a Sleeping Beauty; almost dead; she was snoring.”

“Lagerfeld. Confidential” is nothing more than a documentary study about the life of one of the most provocative and odious personalities in the fashion world. Lagerfeld. Conidential focuses on the German fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld, who is familiar to many of us through his iconic big black sunglasses and a gray-haired ponytail. The film is made from 150 hours of footage, filmed by the documentary filmmaker Rodolphe Marconi. During all of the shooting, Marconi was a constant couturier companion to Lagerfeld, filming his life day after day: Lagerfeld working on sketches for future collection, during the fashion show preparation, on flights, photo shoots, trips around the city, fashion shows, fashion parties, theater visits, meetings with staff, and meetings with celebrities. In the presence of company or at home by himself in an atmosphere of privacy. All of this time the camera carefully watches, catches his witty remarks; slightly curious. As a result, the film leaves the impression of a light and relaxing date with a smart, deep and interesting legendary designer.

Coco before Chanel

“Before she was France’s famous mademoiselle…”

Gabrielle Chanel: Woman with a capital letter: strong, slightly cynical and with intuitively perfect taste. Chanel is one of the very few female fashion designers, who with dignity takes her place among the hundred most influential people of the 20th century. Such fame is and success has a price to pay and in this case it was with a difficult fate, which is unlikely to be envied.

This film is not just about clothes.It’s about fashion history and development of the fashion house, it is also about becoming a big personality. The main thing to note in Coco Avant Chanel is a secretiveness of main character. Despite the fact that it’s an adaptation of Chanel’s biography, Coco remained a woman of mystery. Audrey Tautou presented her character as a sealed container – beautiful on the outside and unknown inside. Audrey performs wonderfully, her Coco is poignant, subtle, self-confident, with temper, but at the same time closed and silent – her huge serious eyes have sadness and melancholy in them. Many emotions were “swallowed”, suppressed by force of an iron will.

The cinematic excellence of the film sets it apart. Historically accurate, beautiful sets and landscapes, magnificent decorations.The Etienne Balzan residence, cabaret “Moulin”, workshops. Peerless costumes – are the real jewel of the movie. The “Before Chanel” epoch was perfectly recreated and those scenes in which Coco creates her masterpieces while under inspiration. Coco Before Chanel is a treat for the eyes.