This documentary by David Teboul focuses on one of the most original designers of the 20th century, Yves Saint Laurent. This creator, and some of the friends that influenced his life, are interviewed in the film to give us an account of what the man is like. By the end, we have a clear picture of the man behind the fashion.
One of the most interesting things that come out in the film is his relationship with Pierre Berge, who was his lover. It's Mr. Berge who had the vision and the business acumen to launch Mr. Saint Laurant to the stratosphere of fashion as it was known then. Without Mr. Berge, one wonders where would have the designer be today. Granted, he had the ideas and the knowledge about what he was doing, but without the hype and the power of his partner, he would have probably been a minor figure in that world.
The surprising thing that comes out on the movie is Mr. Saint Laurant's shyness. He is a modest person who doesn't want to wow his interviewer, or the people watching him answer to the many questions he is asked on camera. One of the subjects that come up is his dealing with his own homosexuality, to which he answers candidly how much it pained him during his formative years.
Other anecdotes by Mr. Berge and a host of friends is included in this documentary that puts the designer in perspective for even the casual viewer. David Teboul directed well and succeeds in showing us a complex man who was a genius and a revolutionary in the world of high fashion.
