Valentino: a story of love, fashion, pugs, and being tan

Since the entire fashion world (including us) have been anticipating the release of Valentino: The Last Emperor we had to check it out to evaluate if it lived up to the hype. Well...it did. The film follows Valentino and his partner Giancarlo Giammetti as they plan shows, create couture, and contemplate the future of the couture house.
Valentino's fashions are centered around classic glamour and he grew up dreaming of designing clothes for ladies of the silver screen. Viewers learn that Giancarlo is the brains behind the business side of Valentino. Their 50+ year relationship is incredible and a real highlight of the documentary. They work together, live together, and have somehow managed to stay with each other all these years. The banter between Giancarlo and Valentino is absolutely classic and keeps you smiling throughout. Keep your ears open for them calling each other fat and Giancarlo telling Valentino he's looking too tan. Lets also not forget Valentino's five pugs who were total scene sealers.
At the screening I attended the director, Matt Tyrnauer, showed up at the end to answer questions and give more of an insight into the creation of the film. Matt met Valentino when he was sent to Rome to write an article on the fashion mastermind for Vanity Fair. Matt dreaded this as he knew nothing about fashion, but was instead fascinated with Rome's rich history. While meeting with Valentino for he became associated with the dynamic relationship between him and Giancarlo. After the article was published headlines in Italy read: Valentino Is Gay. Not sure how that slipped by them, but they are a more conservative country. After all, right next to Rome is Vatican City.
Anyways, after completion of this assignment is when Matt got the idea of creating a film centered around Valentino. He and his crew spent time commuting back and forth between NY and Europe. Somedays they would go into to shoot and be told by Giancarlo that there would be "no movie today" because he and Valentino weren't speaking. Hence, why their bickering is so pivotal and fun to watch. As you'll learn in the film, Valentino is a hard headed individual who can be quite stubborn.
Giancarlo is the more levelheaded one of the two. He even had many ideas and opinions to offer up to the directing and producing of the film. Most of them didn't exactly make the cut, but one that did was of Giancarlo walking around in his snug swim shorts as their yacht docked in Venice. Genius! Actually, when it came to the final cut of the film Valentino and Giancarlo didn't get the documentary style and weren't exactly thrilled with the outcome. It took a few screenings for them to lighten up. Although, as you may have noticed by all of his recent US press, Valentino is all about being a movie star! Looks like he was born to do something else besides fashion after all.

Now Showing at Laemmle Susnset 5. Visit Valentinomovie.com for more details.
Images courtesy Acolyte Films and Check out The Most Fashionable Pug Contest