Angelina Jolie Dazzles at NY Screening of ‘Couture’

Few actresses embody the essence of their characters like Angelina Jolie does in ‘Couture’. Directed by Alice Winocour, this drama has gained traction since its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The recent New York screening saw Jolie return to the limelight, exuding elegance in a sleek black strapless Tom Ford gown paired with aviator sunglasses, marking the arrival of a project that stands out in her illustrious career.

In ‘Couture’, Jolie portrays Maxine, an American filmmaker who arrives in Paris during the bustling Fashion Week. She becomes entwined in a love story with a familiar collaborator while embarking on a deeply personal journey of self-discovery that compels her to confront the choices that shape her life. The film also weaves together the stories of three women, including Ada, a model from South Sudan seeking to escape her predetermined future, and Angèle, a makeup artist working behind the scenes of the fashion world. Written and directed by Winocour, this film delves into themes that go beyond mere fashion.

At its core, the narrative addresses breast cancer, resilience, and the will to live. Jolie, whose mother Marcheline Bertrand succumbed to ovarian and breast cancer in 2007, revealed in 2013 that she underwent a preventive double mastectomy after testing positive for the BRCA1 gene, significantly increasing her risk of developing breast cancer. Maxine’s diagnosis in the film resonates deeply with Jolie, making it a profoundly personal experience.

During a panel discussion at the Toronto International Film Festival, Jolie shared at Deadline’s TIFF studio, “It’s very personal to me, and women’s health and women’s cancers are very personal to me.” For over a decade, she has been a vocal advocate on these issues, and portraying a character navigating such experiences transcends mere acting for her.

The film’s themes of community and shared humanity struck a chord with Jolie, who described it as a narrative about how everyone faces challenges that make us human. She emphasized the importance of empathy, which she put into practice just days before the New York screening by hosting an intimate dinner at Atelier Jolie to honor cancer survivors, attended by medical professionals, artists, and advocates.

At the TIFF premiere, Jolie became emotional while offering advice to an audience member who had recently lost a friend to cancer. She recalled a poignant moment with her mother during her illness, stating, “She said, ‘All anybody ever asks me about is cancer.’” Jolie encouraged the audience to engage with those facing challenges about all aspects of their lives, reminding them that they are whole individuals.

‘Couture’ is notable for being the first fictional film shot inside Chanel’s actual Paris showroom and atelier, lending an authenticity that enhances its fashion-centric backdrop. Winocour made a conscious decision to portray the industry from a female and working-class perspective, diverging from the traditional narratives dominated by powerful male artistic directors.

Peter Jarowey, a partner at Vertical, which is releasing the film in the United States, praised Jolie’s performance for its quiet intensity, describing it as both intimate and deeply personal. This sentiment aligns with the observations of critics who viewed the film at TIFF.

Jolie has openly discussed her own scars in relation to the film, expressing to French Inter that she embraces them as symbols of her choice to survive for her children. She emphasized her interest in the scars and life experiences people carry, rather than an idealized notion of existence.

The New York screening serves as a pivotal moment leading up to the film’s wide American theatrical release, set for just days away. Following its debut at TIFF, ‘Couture’ was released in France in February, with its U.S. rollout through Vertical scheduled for June 26. The journey from Toronto to Paris to New York reflects the film’s narrative, which traverses oceans and languages to convey a universally resonant story.

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