Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
Yves Saint Laurent in a biopic about fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his relationship with Pierre Bergé.
The movie opens in 1957, when Saint Laurent (Pierre Niney) is twenty-one, working for Christian Dior, and made artistic director upon Dior’s passing. This is also the year he meets Pierre Bergé (Guillaume Gallienne), his partner in life and business. Bergé also narrates.
The film covers the pivotal moments in Saint Laurent’s life, from his mental breakdown after being conscripted to serve in the French army in 1960 to the end of his relationship with Bergé in 1976.
Some Thoughts:
Yves Saint Laurent spans nineteen years, so it never gets too in depth. If you already know the basics about Saint Laurent, this may not be the film for you. However, if you don’t know much about Saint Laurent’s life and career, you’ll be satisfied.
The film does a good job showing the core group in Saint Laurent’s life and the influence they had on him. It also showcases his clothes, putting some of his better-known designs up front. What I find peculiar, though, is how it brushes past his friendship with Lagerfeld. Because of that, the full implication of Saint Laurent’s relationship with Jacques de Bascher (Xavier Lafitte), who was Lagerfeld’s boyfriend, is never fully explored.
The business side of fashion isn’t examined, which is odd since that is what Bergé handled. There are bits and pieces of it mentioned, but none of it is discussed at length. The film talks more about image than the decisions that carried Saint Laurent’s designs and made them profitable.
Direction, acting, cinematography, and pacing are all on point. And while Saint Laurent and Bergé aren’t depicted as angels, the film is still kind to them. Saint Laurent’s drinking and drug use are in full view, but tampers down his sexual appetite. And while Bergé’s control of Saint Laurent is evident, it’s tamer than it’s rumored to have been.
The Final Verdict:
Yves Saint Laurent is a well made film that is perfect for someone who doesn’t know much about the fashion designer. While it may not be as over the top as some might prefer, there’s enough drama and beauty to hold your interest.
