Valentino - The Last Emperor

USA / Italy 2008, 96 minutes
Dir. Matt Tyrnauer
In English, Italian, French with English subtitles
Genres: Documentary / LGBT

Topics: Fashion.

Aroview: Surveying the final two years of Italian fashion great Valentino Garavani's career before retirement, this head-turning doco celebrates his career and iconic brand while providing deeper insight into both the creative and business aspects of a fashion empire.

Full of "Fellini-esque" pageantry and bustle, not to mention some wonderful clothes, the film is less biography than snapshot of an opulent "reality", with sincere and ultimately moving focus on the designer's crucial, 45-year relationship with his business and life partner, Giancarlo Giammetti. Music by Italian soundtrack maestro, Nino Rota. Bravo!

NZ International Film Festival 2009