Swanky. Last night saw me at the UK premiere of Coco & Igor, a biopic charting a brief but seemingly passionate affair between one of fashion’s ultimate icons, Coco Chanel, and avant garde Russian composer, Igor Stravinsky (he of The Rites of Spring, which in 1913 caused a right consternation in the Theatre Champs-Elysees). Found ourselves quaffing school night bubbly with Brix Smith Start and Mr Start, no less.
Actress Anna Mouglalis, who stars as Coco (as well as being very cosy with Chanel and uber designer Karl Lagerfeld), gave a short speech to introduce the film, which previewed at Cannes, and is due to go on general release on August 6 (distributed by Soda Pictures, who hosted the evening)
Essentially a very beautiful, two-hour-long moving lookbook (there were mutterings about its two hour run-time), Coco & Igor is very pleasing on the eye – dramatic sets and to-die-for costume, including some timeless designs by Lagerfeld for Mouglalis to sport, which I can only fantastise about. This deals with Chanel in her 1920s heyday, and her coldhearted exploitation of an apparently destitute Stravinsky, not that he seemed to mind too much, while she simultaneously develops the iconic No5 perfume…
Like Coco Avant Chanel, it moves slowly and deliberately, and is heavy on the Chanel doctrine, and is definitely one for die-hard fashion and Chanel fans. I couldn’t quite help wondering when we will get a film which explores the greater depth of Chanel’s fascinating life and deeper thoughts (not to mention her alleged relationship with Nazis in Paris during WW2). Maybe one day the French fashion powerhouse will get brave…
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Look fabulous! Saw the trailer the other day and now with your blog I am sold. Certainly sounds like a Fashion Popcorn moment!