Dior and I (2014)

December 12, 2015 8:22 AM

Dior and I brings the viewer inside the storied world of the Christian Dior fashion house with a privileged, behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Raf Simons' first haute couture collection as its new artistic director-a true labor of love created by a dedicated group of collaborators. Melding the everyday, pressure-filled components of fashion with mysterious echoes from the iconic brand's past, the film is also a colorful homage to the seamstresses who serve Simons' vision.

Dior and I unfolds like an episode of Project Runway with better clothes and bigger budgets.
A. O. Scott · New York Times

The film’s relatively fleet running time allows viewers to feel a distilled sense of the pressure Simons and his crew are under.
Keith Uhlich · A.V. Club

Multilayered, meticulously woven and a model of its kind, the docu deserves a place on specialized screens as well as TV.
Jay Weissberg · Variety

posted by jillithd (6 comments total)

The info section missed that this is on netflix streaming.
posted by sammyo at 7:26 PM on December 12, 2015

I saw this recently, just after Simons was fired/resigned/didn't have his contract renewed and really regretted not having subtitles in the version I watched. I wanted to know why they chose someone with such a different aesthetic. The Project Runway aspect was very interesting especially as it seemed he wanted a special textile created based on an old Dior swatch and an artist whose work he admired, that seemed to indicate that he wasn't familiar with the process. Which is frankly unbelievable so I really was puzzled by those scenes.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 5:01 PM on December 13, 2015

I reviewed this for my friend's film blog (so self-link there) and I loved it, despite its flaws. Now that it's on Netflix, I keep saying to people "Have you watched Dior and I? You should watch it!"

I love the team that made these dresses a reality. I loved that the movie let it be their victory, too. I adored that entire workshop crew -- they all felt so much more essential and vital than Simons himself. They made the movie and I think everyone should watch it for them.

(When I watch it again, I definitely will.)
posted by darksong at 7:16 PM on December 13, 2015 [1 favorite]

Holy shit I want to watch this.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 11:30 PM on December 13, 2015

The Variety review mostly fit with how I felt about the movie. (Not all documentaries have to be "hard hitting", NYT!) I loved seeing the craftspeople doing their craft! I'm only learning how to sew/construct garments now, so it was really fascinating to me to see the folks in the workshop construct these pieces and work out where to put darts and folds and really about how to handle different kinds of fabrics in different situations. I found the process to make that Sterling painting woven fabric really interesting.

I also liked the discussion between how to make the high art of couture in the same business as the financial aspect of being an atelier. Who pays for the fancy flowers? That lady in NYC who spends 350k EUR a year for her wardrobe. The quiet comment from Anna Wintour about no budget problems regarding the floor-to-ceiling rooms of flowers was a highlight.

I felt the conflict between Raf and the Premiere whose flight was an hour late very juvenile and tantrum-y. It was a power struggle and he didn't like that he lost! It was uncomfortable to watch. Get over it, dude, and carry on. She'll be here as soon as she can. She's a professional.

But that same emotion was wonderful to see later on when he was so stressed out about the show. He had to get away from everything and hide out on the balcony by himself. (I CAN RELATE!) And the genuine tears as the show finished! No hiding them. There is a grown ass man crying and it is wonderful. (I was crying, too.)

I have to admire the vision of having all of those flowers during the show. That would be a lovely room to sit in (as long as you aren't allergic), surrounded by fresh flowers.

I want to watch it again just so I can "hang out" some more with those craftspeople sewing stuff.
posted by jillithd at 8:31 AM on December 16, 2015 [1 favorite]

The couture fashion industry has always left me feeling a bit mystified-- it seems so emblematic of a country's relatively long-term prosperity (a country that can afford to pour this much time and energy and love and this many Euros into the nuances of fabric?). The beautiful room full of flowers and the sense of pressure (despite no flesh wounds, no heavy ethical judgements to be made, no lives at stake) throughout the entire documentary felt a little disorienting to me.

I enjoyed the documentary as a glimpse into a world I am completely unacquainted with. I liked that it covered not only the process of and teamwork involved in creating the dresses, but also the issues of publicizing and presenting Simons and choreographing the show.
posted by gemutlichkeit at 8:42 PM on January 5, 2016