What are the future film productions of Saint Laurent Productions?

The first couture house to venture into the film industry with its own budding production branch is Saint Laurent, under the direction of its artistic director Anthony Vaccarello, which didn't come as much of a surprise to many. For Vaccarello, a passionate cinephile, this move was simply a logical one, considering the film industry as a natural extension of his creative endeavors. Vaccarello began exploring various forms of artistic expression as early as the end of 2018 with the launch of the Self series. This unique project brought together creatives from around the world to illustrate the brand's character and attitude through their personal interpretations. The house collaborated with renowned filmmakers like Abel Ferrara (known for works such as King of New York, Pasolini, Padre Pio), who directed a documentary for the series. More recently, Saint Laurent partnered with Jim Jarmusch to create a short film for the SS21 collection, featuring actors like Chloe Sevigny, Indya Moore, and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Not to mention the SS23 campaign, where renowned directors such as Jim Jarmusch, Pedro Almodóvar, Abel Ferrara, and David Cronenberg were featured.

Vaccarello, expressing his love for the seventh art, stated, «A good film can continue to leave a lasting impact even 10 or 30 years down the line. In some ways, making a film can have a stronger impact than a collection. To me, it's a natural extension of creativity, reaching a broader and more popular audience.» For its first cinematic project, the house has once again partnered with Pedro Almodóvar, co-producing the short film titled Strange Way of Life with Almodóvar's production subsidiary, El Desseo. Starring the talented Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal in the lead roles, this moving project tells the story of two former lovers who reunite after 25 years and rediscover their childhood love story. The film's costumes, all designed by Vaccarello, serve to enrich the narrative rather than simply promote the brand. Evoking a more elegant version of Brokeback Mountain, Hawke and Pascal stylishly portray some of the best-dressed cowboys in cinema, sporting suede cowboy boots with buckles and delicate, colorful bolo ties. «In terms of communication, making a film has a deeper impact on people than a collection. I'm very excited to expand this creativity into something broader and more popular. It's a new approach to potentially attract new customers to Saint Laurent,» Vaccarello explains to WWD. To showcase the house's versatility in storytelling, Saint Laurent also produced a short film from an unfinished project by the late Jean-Luc Godard, the founder of the New Wave movement.

A new feature film in the works

In contrast to the house's previous collaborations with the film industry, Saint Laurent Productions places the brand as an associate producer, thus holding the rights to the film. This approach differs significantly from that of other luxury houses, often limited to sponsorship or costume design roles. As such, Saint Laurent becomes an integral part of the work itself, its storytelling, and all aspects of production. Regarding their upcoming projects, feature films by David Cronenberg and Paolo Sorrentino are already confirmed. While details about Cronenberg's film are still unknown, the Sorrentino x Saint Laurent project is expected to come to fruition soon. The post-production of Partenope, starring Gary Oldman, Luisa Ranieri, Stefania Sandrelli, and Isabella Ferrari, is currently underway. For this latest project, Sorrentino returned to Naples, his hometown, as well as Capri, to tell the story of Partenope. This name, steeped in Greek mythology, belongs to a siren who, unable to seduce Ulysses with her songs, drowned in the sea, and her body washed ashore in what is now Naples, becoming a central element of Neapolitan folklore. While many details remain unknown, Sorrentino described the story as follows: «Her long life embodies the entire repertoire of human existence: the lightness of youth and its disappearance, classical beauty and its inevitable transformations, futile and impossible loves, worn-out flirts and dizzying passion, nighttime kisses on Capri, flashes of joy and persistent sufferings, real and invented fathers, endings, and new beginnings.» This description suggests all the necessary elements to create a powerful drama, exploring the journey of a young girl from childhood innocence to the complexity of adulthood.

Certainly, films reflect the dynamics of society, culture, and contemporary trends, presenting an ideal medium to showcase a house's new collection or original creations. However, a question remains: what level of artistic freedom is granted in such collaborations? When a brand partners with a film, it must carefully maintain the image it wishes to convey. Therefore, this concern can sometimes hinder creativity, favoring the promotion of the brand's values over bold exploration in the cinematic project. Nevertheless, this issue seems to be bypassed by Saint Laurent Productions and Vaccarello; the designer demonstrates a deep respect for directors, even those with divergent approaches, highlighting the imperative of maintaining a diverse and innovative portfolio. Furthermore, anticipation is at its peak to discover some of the most elegantly dressed characters in contemporary cinema. What is even more intriguing is the unique approach Vaccarello will take to create an Italian summer dream, contrasting with the dramatic narrative of a Western centered on the love story between two men. This thematic and stylistic diversity in cinematic productions showcases the endless ingenuity of Saint Laurent Productions and Vaccarello's unwavering commitment to explore a multitude of artistic paths.