MOVIE: YVES SAINT LAURENT

Having heard that the new Yves Saint Laurent biopic hit the stores was in the movies already, I rushed to book a ticket. While my expectations always run high with French cinema, this time I was left completely puzzled, and I mean it in a good way. Does it surprise you when I tell you that this year there would be two such films, both set in France. Well, it wouldn't amaze me, that's for sure, with all the ongoing fuss around embarking on a new journey and getting rid of old. Naturally, I refer to the fact, we are no longer able to see Yves on a brand's logo. I leave the judgments to you (once you are aware that the man himself has done the same, his name to difficult to pronounce for the rest of the world), as I should mention, if I may, that having the name on a cinema poster automatically means a fashion movie. Turned out, it wasn't at all that simple.

Back in the 60s, Yves Saint Laurent was 21-years old and head of Dior, at the same time neurotic and insecure, as his business and love partner Pierre Bergé recalls. The film does a great justice to all the majesty and grandeur of his designs: from taking on Dior and transforming it, to the revolution of Le Smoking and...well, there has been a lot of ground-breaking actions. What still may strike, if you do not dare call yourself a particular fashion lover, while that does not mean you will not be enthralled by the gorgeousness of the clothes, you will find yourself involved because Yves Saint Laurent adheres to the traditions of love story, emotional turmoils of youth and a life long journey of a person so far from commonplace or low-maintenance. 

Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé

YVES SAINT LAURENT 2014

There is nothing redundant and, consequently, shallow or sickly-sweet, as every action, hue and word are rich in subtle implications. When the relationship between Yves and Pierre emerge, we see nothing but deserted streets, where nothing and no one matters anymore, except for those two.

Yves Saint Laurent has, in fact, what it takes to be called an auteur film - it's a visually stunning picture in a way only French cinematographers are capable of with some quite drastic turns in the script and incomparable acting. Surprisingly enough (I feel like shouting "Thanks God" there really), the dialogues are not grandiloquent, although you would surely expect it in biopic. Actually, the greatest achievement of the cast and the crew is that of focusing on Yves personality rather than creating a flawless genius type that is so remarkably different from us, mere mortals. I loveв that he was alive on screen and I was able to believe the things he have been doing and saying.

YVES SAINT LAURENT, 2014

YVES SAINT LAURENT, 2014

That's why, hats off to Pierre Niney (Yves) and Guillaume Gallienne (Pierre) whose acting was immaculate, and more importantly, painfully sincere as it happens so rarely when both love story and famous people involved. They were not being placid when there were no cue left, but managed to show what's inside their characters perfectly.

YVES SAINT LAURENT, 2014

Does it astonish you then, that  Pierre Bergé approves of this film greatly. For me this is a point added to the credibility of the whole story, isn't it?