Yves Saint Laurent

"Yves Saint Laurent" (2014 release from France; 105 min.) brings the story of one of the biggest names ever in the fashion design industry, YSL. As the movie opens, we are in 1957, where we see young Yves with his family in Oran, Algeria (not long before the revolutionary war breaks out). During the opening titles, we jump to today, where YSL's partner explains why he is selling all of the art they had collected over the last 4+ decades. We then jump back to the late 50s, and it's not long before the crazily-talented YSL is off to Paris, where he works under that other monument of the French fashion industry, Christian Dior. When Dior unexpectedly passes away, YSL becomes the head designer (he was barely 22!). Meanwhile. we also get to know the personal life of YSL. To tell you more would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: first, there are dueling biopics on YSL currently out there. Besides this movie, there is also the similarly titled "Saint Laurent", also from France, so be careful to be sure that you don't mistakenly confuse one with the other. Second, this movie tries to give us both a look at YSL's professional life and his personal life, but in the end really doesn't do either one justice. It all seems very hurried (the movie covers 1957 through 1976), and as a result the movie lacks depth and drama. That is really a shame as there are some good moments in it. One of those is when YSL is under observation at a military hospital, and YSL's partner tells him: "Do you want to live or do you want to die?" Another good moment comes much later when the same partner observes "You are happy only twice a year: in Spring and in Fall, when the collections come out". I wish there were more such key observations. The two lead actors, Pierre Niney as YSL and Guillaume Gallienne as his partner, give their all in performances covering 2 decades, and it's certainly not their fault that the movie, while promising at times, ultimately falls short. Last but not least, tip o' the old hat to the production design of the movie, with the immaculate reproductions of Paris in the 60s and 70s (check out the old cars!).

"Yves Saint Laurent" opened without any pre-release hype or advertising last summer (July, 2014) at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati. I figure it wouldn't be playing long so I went to see it right away (I was right, as it disappeared after only 1 week). The early evening screening I saw this at was not particularly well attended. The other YSL biopic I mentioned earlier is finally opening this weekend here in Cincinnati and I'm looking forward to check that out, just to see how different it is from this one. Meanwhile, well-intended as it is but flawed, I still might suggest you check out "Yves Saint Laurent" when it is released on DVD/Blu-ray. If on the other hand you are a fashion aficionado, then this movie is a must-see!

This film tells the life of the great French fashion designer, Yves Saint Laurent, concentrating on his youthful but turbulent years in Paris and Morocco.

"Yves Saint Laurent" has certainly a lot of beautiful clothes and beautiful people, but it's not enough to be a good biographical film. The story is presented as a recollection from Mr Berge's perspective, with him occasionally narrating to fill in the gaps. The story runs too fast for viewers to gain understanding with the eventful life of Yves Saint Laurent, and the story does not dive deep enough for any emotional connection to occur. Events are not presented in an engaging manner. I guess that's a necessary evil for a biographical film because compressing years into less than two hours is not an easy job. Skimming stones is quite expected.

YVES SAINT-LAURENT traces the career of the eponymous fashion designer (Pierre Niney) from his early days in the late Fifties to the zenith of his fame two decades later. The film concentrates on his professional as well as his personal struggles with long-time lover (and manager) Pierre Bergé (Guillaume Gallienne).

Director Jalil Lespert makes a lot out of Saint-Laurent's background as an outsider; born in Algeria during the colonial period, he never really felt at home in mainstream Parisian society. He began his career by following existing fashion patterns; but after being dismissed as "boring," immediately after leaving the house of Dior (Patrice Thibaud) he branched out on his own. This proved a wise move, as the film shows how he shot to stardom with a series of daring and often innovatory designs. There are several shots of Saint-Laurent working on his new creations day and night, to the despair of Pierre.

YVES SAINT-LAURENT offers a sumptuous recreation of Fifties and Sixties Parisian society. Deliberately shot in washed-out colors, the film conjures up a lost world of large saloon cars, packed streets and never-ending parties where Saint-Laurent spent most of his leisure-time. The models' hairstyles are deliberately ostentatious, especially that of principal mannequin Victoire (Charlotte Le Bon) who at first attracts and then repels Saint- Laurent.

Lespert's film doesn't tell us much about Saint-Laurent's life, other than the fact that he was something of a tortured genius, always on the lookout for personal as well as professional satisfaction but never seeming to find it. He enjoys a close relationship with his mother (Marianne Basler), and later on in life he always runs back to Pierre for emotional as well as professional support. With his black horn-rimmed lenses and increasingly disheveled hair-styles, Niney gives a convincing portrayal of the designed. On the other hand, perhaps the script should have offered more insight into how Saint-Laurent became such an iconic figure of the fashion world; what was it about him that made him so popular with both high society and the ordinary consumer.

As Pierre, Galienne has to make the best of a supporting role, and succeeds brilliantly. He comes across as a patient person, ever ready to forgive Saint-Laurent's excesses; but nonetheless dedicated to the fledgling fashion-house's future success. In several backstage sequences he is shown managing the models, designers and other assorted hangers-on with quiet efficiency, clipboard in hand. It was mostly down to his efforts that the house of Saint-Laurent enjoyed its global success; without him, the designer might have only had limited appeal.

YVES SAINT-LAURENT is definitely watchable - some of the party- scenes where the hero enters a drug-filled world of fantasy and hallucination - are particularly memorably shot. But I still think the film represents something of a missed opportunity to dramatize the life of an icon.

The young up and coming executive of a fashion house who became an industry icon himself.

In this biopic, we are treated to a rather different angle of the legendary designer. We follow his early steps in the world of fashion and how his vision guided him and his unremittingly uncompromising personality made him a stand out. Like all 'celebrities' it was rather sad to see him fall into the alcohol and drugs trap but it was the love of someone else that kept him steady, possible saving from altogether destruction.

Being so open about his homosexuality in such puritanical times was also refreshing to see.

Overall, whilst it might not be a masterpiece of a movie, but still it has style, class and panache to make it a memorable experience even a fitting tribute to this great man of fashion.

Review: This movie gives an in depth look into Yves Saint Laurent life, which had its ups and downs throughout his successful career in the fashion industry. I liked the way that the director showed how he became famous after his brief take over from Christian Dior. It really does show the dark side of his life and his battle with his inner demons whilst trying to sustain his career. Pierre Berge really was the genius behind the business side of his fashion world, but when it came to the actual designing and production of his amazing clothes, you really can't fault Saint Laurent. His whole thought process was extremely unique which was noticed by Pierre, earlier on his in career. After battling through many obstacles in his life, Yves always received love from the public through his fashion which is still popular to this day. As a movie, I found it entertaining and an eye opener, into a world which I know nothing about. Enjoyable!

Round-Up: I haven't heard of any of the actors in this movie before, but man, they really did do a good job. The emotion and drama throughout the movie was great and the performance by the leading actor couldn't have been played better by anyone else. His mannerism and gestures were spot on and he actually did look like Saint Laurent. I would have liked to see what had happened in his career before he sadly died in 2008 of brain cancer, but it's still a very well put together biopic. After watching the bonus features on the DVD, I saw that the real Pierre Berge helped with the move and he gave them permission to use the real clothes and shoot in Yves apartments which shows how in depth the movie really is. It would have been good to see some real footage of the man himself, but that's just me being fussy. I'm not usually one that likes movies with subtitles, but I didn't lose interest throughout the movie, which is a plus for me.

Budget: €12million Worldwide Gross: $20million

I recommend this movie to people who are interested in Yves Saint Laurent and the troubled mind behind his successful career as a fashion designer. 6/10