Dior e Eu

Dior and I is one of the best fashion documentaries, up there with "Iris" or "The September Issue." It covers the months leading up to the new designer's first collection. It really builds up the stakes of Raf Simons and his staff coming into Dior on relatively short time period until his debut fashion show, and gives you lots of insight into what couture really is, and the characters of the tailors working on constructing the designs really shine through. And of course there are lots of beautiful clothes and flowers, and shots of Paris. Worth watching if you're at all interested in fashion, but also a well made documentary for fans of the genre. Features some good content on the history of the company as well. A fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of one of the best known fashion houses.

"Dior and I" (2014 release from France; 90 min.) brings a close-up look at the fashion house of Christian Dior as it exists today. As the documentary opens (in 2012), the CEO of Christian Dior introduces a new creative director to the staff, a Belgian guy named Raf Simons. Raf is new to the "haute couture" as his background really is in "pret-a-porter" (ready to wear) and mostly for men on top of that. So this is a daring choice, and not one without risks. On top of that, Raf only has 8 weeks to come up with a new collection. And as if that isn't enough, Raf's use of French is okay but not fluent (he hails from Dutch-speaking Antwerp, Belgium, home of many other notable fashion designers). How will Raf do? Will his first collection be a success? 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, this is the latest documentary from writer-director Frédéric Tcheng, who most recently brought us the delightful "Diane Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel". Second, the challenges that Raf Simons is facing are significant from the get-go. Not only because of the ridiculous time constraints (normally a new collection gets started on 4 to 6 months out, not 8 weeks), but also because of Simons' personality, which isn't the easiest, and his transition to designing haute couture for women, rather than pret-a-porter for men. Along the way, we get to know many other characters, including Pieter Mulier, another Dutch-speaking Belgian who came with Raf and is his trusted right-hand man, and of course the French atelier workers. The tension builds up as we get closer to the deadline for presenting the new collection. Watching how Raf deals with the pressure on the day of the collection's premiere, that alone is worth seeing this documentary for.

I recently saw this at the Landmark E Street Cinema in Washington DC. The matinée screening where I saw this at was very well attended, somewhat to my surprise to be honest. But I guess it just shows there really is an audience for a top-notch documentary on fashion. If this is your kind of thing, I'd readily suggest you check this out, be it in the theater or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray.

One of 2 docs available. Very inspiring. Fashion needs more. I'd like to do one. Director was great. I liked seeing Anna Wintour in a new light. His sensibility is fantastic. They come together beautifully. The synopsis is very true and well written. It is a very courageous work. The architecture in it is fascinating. It is well shot. It is,well lit. The sound is great. The behind the scenes abroad is awesome. They clearly got a lot of footage. The special events highlighted were fantastic. I got a deep view in.

Dior and I was nothing short of a mesmerizing glimpse into the working of the worlds most celebrated fashion house. This documentary captured eloquently the working of an artists mind. It shows Raf Simmons take a plunge into the couture work.Simmons, a ready-to -wear designer struggles with the art of mastering a couture line; that to, in a short span of 8 weeks. It also shows the language barriers between him (Belgian) and the workers. The behind the scenes gives you a beautiful glimpse into the creation of couture. These are not just garments, but the evolution of thought, love and effort. It portrays the love a creator has for his creation. The last bit was definitely the most enticing of all- the final moments where everyone waited for the models to walk the ramp- with tense faces and bated breaths. If you have a heart for fashion, this is definitely a must watch!

This is a very entertaining film in its own right, but that which I enjoyed about it most, as a common working guy, with no artistic pretensions worth speaking of, is the way in which the various key characters featured have all managed to convince themselves that what they do is essential to some great endeavour! Well, mes amis, you are only fancy-dan dressmakers, and if you gave up and went on to a different job, you would soon be replaced! The school jumpers my Ma used to knit for me were as valuable as what you do- pity no-one ever had a 350,000 euro account with her! But, as I said, a very entertaining film, and these are not the only people who think highly of themselves - film critics fall into the same trap (not that I am one). General Yen