It’s safe to say Valentino is considered an emperor to fashion lovers. Even those of us who don’t know the difference in colour between fuchsia and magenta (myself included) can appreciate a man whose successful career in the fashion industry has lasted over 45 years.

Directed and produced by Matt Tyrnauer, Special Correspondent for Vanity Fair magazine, “Valentino: The Last Emperor” gives viewers a candid look at one of the most famous fashion designers, Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani (aka Valentino).

One of the first things the famed Italian designer says in the film is “I love beauty, it’s not my fault.” And who can blame him? It turns out Valentino was inspired to become a designer by the stars of the silver screen. After seeing movies starring Hollywood leading ladies like Judy Garland, he set out to make clothes for women. So it would only seem fitting for the designer of the stars to get his own flick on the big screen – and it doesn’t disappoint.

The documentary was shot between 2005 and 2007, where over 250 hours of footage was captured of Valentino and his entourage, giving viewers a “fly on the wall” exploration of his lifestyle.

As you’ll see in the movie, whether it be highs or lows, every year of Valentino’s life seems to include a great deal of theatrics, and 2005 to 2007 was no exception. Aside from Permira acquiring shares of Valentino – making it the largest investor in the company – Valentino himself was going through a struggle anyone over 50 can relate to: when to retire.

For a man who hasn’t spent more than three days in one city for the past few decades, retirement can become a horrifying thought. This film shows how Valentino lives, eats and breathes fashion and because as he himself admits, he’s “a disaster at everything else.”

And it’s a good thing Valentino has Giancarlo Giammetti, his business partner and companion of 50 years, by his side. Giancarlo may be overshadowed by Valentino to the general public, but this documentary is bound to change that. During their extensive career in the fashion world, Giancarlo was the mastermind behind the Valentino brand and as the documentary shows, he still took care of the behind-the-scene aspect of the company over 40 years later.

This film is as much a tribute to Valentino as it is to Giancarlo. It shows that without one, the other wouldn’t get too far in the fashion world or anywhere else. It also helps that Valentino has a tight-nit staff and an extensive roster of celebrity friends as a support system, including Elton John, Gwyneth Paltrow and Elizabeth Hurley – all of whom make appearances in the film. But at the end of the day, Valentino doesn’t design dresses in order to get famous friends, he designs clothes due to his love for beauty and fashion.

Sure, that may sound cliché, but the documentary also shows many aspects of Valentino’s life that are far removed from a fairytale story. As Giancarlo points out, Valentino can be quite stubborn. His inability to share his problems with others may make him come off as powerful, but it also isolates him.

It’s clear in the film that Valentino doesn’t always acknowledge the work Giancarlo puts into the company, and it’s sometimes the catalyst to many of arguments (most of which are very humorous and engaging). His lifestyle – including the European palaces he calls home and a family of pugs that follow him wherever he goes, will definitely bedazzle. Watching this film is like taking a five-star vacation without leaving the country – always a plus.

Finally, the film ends with the 45th anniversary celebration of Valentino in the fashion industry that took place in Rome, a celebration fitting for an emperor. As pointed out in the movie, Valentino hasn’t changed with fame and fortune because before all that he was first and foremost a beauty-lover, and a dreamer.

stars: 3.5/5

Related posts:

1. Movie Review: A Single Man
2. Movie Review: Coco Avant Chanel
3. Movie Review: Definitely, Maybe

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance