“No one discovered Alexander McQueen, McQueen discovered himself,” so says a dramatic, stunning teaser trailer for the highly anticipated film on the late, great Alexander McQueen’s life.
“McQueen offers a vivid portrait of the tortured but inspired auteur’s work and persona,” a synopsis on the Tribeca Film Festival reads. Directed and produced by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, who came together to co-direct the film, it captures the short life of the late British fashion designer.
The documentary includes ‘behind the scenes’ footage of McQueen’s esteemed career, at home movies, and a number of moving interviews from the London-born designer’s closest friends and family.
McQueen rose through the fashion industry, influencing everyone around him with his enchanting artistry and theatrical runway shows. Mirroring the vivacity of his work, the teaser trailer, at just over half a minute long, airs highlights from his renowned collections. From this brief teaser, we can spot shots of his most spellbinding, talked about moments – S/S 1999, where two robots spraypainted a dress worn by Shalom Harlow on a revolving platform, and the monumental asylum-themed S/S 2001 show VOSS.
The film’s synopsis describes McQueen as, “harnessed by his demons” and, “one of the most iconic artists of the century”, while “provoking and subverting the fashion industry in ways that often-caused controversy and scandal”.
Premiering at TFF April 22, McQueen will have a wider debut June 8 at London’s Picturehouse Central. A live Q&A will take place with his sister Janet McQueen and nephew Gary McQueen, friend and first assistant designer Sebastian Pons and Detmar Blow – the husband of McQueen’s famous, eccentric mentor, the late Isabella Blow.
The Ripper, a film about McQueen’s tumultuous, intense relationship with his muse and patron Blow, is still in the works, while 45 Years director Andrew Haigh continues to work on a biopic about the designer, reportedly starring Jack McConnell.
Tribeca Film Festival will also be showing star-studded The Gospel According to André, about the iconic editor André Leon Talley.
McQueen is premiering at the festival this weekend (April 22), ahead of its limited release in June