Dior and I …Wednesday 17th February, 8.30pm
An absolute must see, Dior and I presents us with an unprecedented glimpse into the workroom of distinguished fashion house Christian Dior, with a behind the scenes look at the creation of Raf Simons first haute couture collection. Directed by Frederic Tcheng (Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel), Dior and I shows off the incredible talent involved in bringing Simon’s visions to life, and reveals the pressure and struggle involved in balancing creativity and business. You’ll have a newfound respect for the fashion industry after watching this film, and a better understanding of how it works. It’s not all air kisses and front row celebrities; it’s big, serious business.
Here are my highlights for the week.
Dior and I …Wednesday 17th February, 8.30pm
An absolute must see, Dior and I presents us with an unprecedented glimpse into the workroom of distinguished fashion house Christian Dior, with a behind the scenes look at the creation of Raf Simons first haute couture collection. Directed by Frederic Tcheng (Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel), Dior and I shows off the incredible talent involved in bringing Simon’s visions to life, and reveals the pressure and struggle involved in balancing creativity and business. You’ll have a newfound respect for the fashion industry after watching this film, and a better understanding of how it works. It’s not all air kisses and front row celebrities; it’s big, serious business.
THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES....Thursday 18th February, 8:30pm
★★★★½ - Review by Graeme Tuckett - stuff.co.nz
I've never really been a fan of Russell Brand.
I've opined before that I think he's a prat, a phony and a self-satisfied tosser. That was two hours ago.
Having just watched Brand fronting The Emperor's New Clothes – the documentary he has co-created with director Michael Winterbottom (The Trip, Trishna, A Mighty Heart, 24 Hour Party People and many many other films) – I'm prepared to take it all back. I'll never be a fan of his stand-up, but as the narrator and court-jester here Brand is compelling, impassioned and convincing.
The Emperor's New Clothes is a quick trip over the Western world in the years since the Thatcher/Reagan/Milton Friedman-led "financial revolution" of the 1980s. And what Brand sees, he doesn't like one bit. Neither should we.
A few stats will never tell the whole story, but knowing that the average CEO salary in the 1970s was ten times the average worker's wage, but today it's more like 150 times that wage should give you at least a taste of what Brand wants you to ponder.
Or, as Brand says at the very beginning of this film, "You know this already".
Read the full review here.
Starlet… Friday 19th February, 8.30pm
Written and directed by Sean Barker (Tangerine, Take Out and Prince of Broadway), Starlet stars Dree Hemingway, daughter of actress Mariel Hemingway and granddaughter of famed writer Ernest Hemingway, in her first leading role. Hemingway plays Jane, a listless young woman who has recently moved to San Fernando Valley. She spends her days looking after her Chihuahua Starlet, and getting high with her dysfunctional flatmates. At a garage sale, she buys a thermos for a dollar off a cantankerous old woman called Sadie (Besedka Johnson) and when she gets home, discovers ten thousand dollars hidden inside. Jane tries to return the money, but Sadie won’t listen. Jane, who has a lot more depth to her than you initially think, goes about befriending the lonely Sadie in an effort to help her out. It’s a sweet, heartfelt and largely improvised film about friendship that cruises along at it’s own speed giving you a sense of day-to-day life in the not so glamorous part of Los Angeles. However, it also catches you by surprise with the blindsiding reveal of Jane’s vocation and the increasing erratic behavior of her flatmates. This is low budget, indie filmmaking at its best.