Fashion Film Festival: Intriguing enough for engineering students

Editor's Note:  The Cinema and Visual Culture Studies is producing the Fashion Film Festival on Oct. 9.  The three films will screen for free throughout the day.  See the schedule at the end of the article. 

Review of: “The September Issue”

By Gregory Scott, engineering student

Most posters or release advertisements to “The September Issue” showcase the tagline “This is the Real Devil Wears Prada.” Honestly, I could not have said it better myself.  The film is mostly shot from a documentary point of view, however the viewer is immediately wrapped into the story due to some very engaging storytelling.  The movie covers the production of the 2007 September issue of Vogue, which remains today the largest issue of the magazine ever, and is speculated to have had the largest impact on the 300 billion dollar fashion industry compared to any other magazine.  The sense of urgency in the movie builds and builds, like a snowball rolling downhill, until at the end the viewer finds themselves worried if they even be able to finish the issue on time. 

Personally I was taken aback by how interested I became in this foreign world of fashion (as an engineering major.) This entire film was like viewing a National Geographic venture into a completely foreign world. This is not to say that the film is not accessible, it is fun and witty, just as much as it is serious and stern.  There are times where you will want to give Anna Wintour a serious piece of your mind as she mercilessly hacks and slashes her employees’ multi-thousand dollar shoots down to mere two-page features. As the film progresses though, you begin to learn how things really work and respect Anna’s discerning eye, just as much as you respect the brilliant ideas put forth by Grace Coddington.  The movie does an amazing job of following Grace’s exploits as well, following her every thought and every shoot. It almost seems like you are watching an action movie, seeing Grace’s every struggle and every defeat, until she comes up with her best idea yet and finally tames Anna’s disapproval.

Overall, it doesn’t matter if you wear the same blue jeans every day, or if you appreciate the subtle differences between six different shades of white within a Prada dress line, this movie will severely intrigue and entertain you.

Fashion Film Festival:

Oct. 9, Cline Library Assembly Hall, Free

Sponsored by Cinema and Visual Cultural Studies, the Merchandising program in the School of Communication, College of Arts and Letters, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and School of Communication.

There will be fashion shows before the 3 p.m. showing and 7 p.m. showing by the Merchandising program in the School of Communication.  Students will be modeling vintage clothing as well as the latest styles for fall.

12:30 p.m.--“Funny Face” directed by Stanley Donen, starring Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire, 1957, 103 min., NR

 

3 p.m.--“Coco Avant Chanel” (Coco Before Chanel,) directed by Anne Fontaine, starring Audrey Tautou, Alessandro Nivola, Emmanuelle Devos, 2009, 105 min., PG-13.  Screened in French with English subtitles.

7 p.m.-- “September Issue,” directed by R.J. Cutler, starring Anna Wintour, Grace Coddington, 2009, 90 min., PG-13.