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Valentino

the Last Emperor
Dec 20, 2009CalicoJack rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This unscripted film, intelligently produced & directed by Matt Tymauer, a veteran writer & editor for “Vanity Fair”, documents the final 2 years in the career of renowned fashion designer Valentino Garavani. Instead of the more time-saving information-gathering techniques usually favoured by reporters, it uses an impeccable direct-cinema method in which the filmmaker just lets his subjects talk, then relies on brilliant editing after the fact to pare away excess & hone the story until it shines. Through the resulting narrative we gain unprecedented access to the minds, emotions, & creative processes of Valentino & his skillful entourage, including his business partner of 50 years (& lover for 12) Giancarlo Giammetti. We also gain (for once) an almost-adequately detailed glimpse of Valentino’s gorgeous gowns & the devastation wrought by global economic forces on the delicate world of haute couture. All in all, this film is a fitting tribute to the maestro (b. 1932) who dedicated his life to the love of beauty; whose controlled & controlling presence & lavish lifestyle were as much works of art as his frocks; who could slit an evening dress from floor to crotch & still make it appear ladylike; & who dressed such incomparable fashion luminaries as Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, & Princess Diana. If this exquisite piece of movie-making about him doesn’t win the 2010 Academy Award for Best Documentary, there’s something seriously wrong with the Academy.