L'amour fou (2010)

A documentary on the relationship between fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent and his lover, Pierre Berge.

Director:

Pierre Thoretton

Writers:

Ève Guillou, Pierre Thoretton

Stars:

Yves Saint-Laurent, Pierre Bergé, Betty Catroux

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Yves Saint-Laurent	...	Himself (archive footage)
Pierre Bergé	...	Himself / Interviewee
Betty Catroux	...	Herself / Interviewee
Loulou De La Falaise	...	Herself / Interviewee
Jack Lang	...	Himself / Interviewee
Frédéric Chambre	...	Himself (archive footage)
Boujemaa Lahbali	...	Himself (archive footage)
Catherine Deneuve	...	Herself (archive footage)
Laetitia Casta	...	Herself (archive footage)
François de Ricqlès	...	Himself (archive footage)
François Curiel	...	Himself (archive footage)
Lionel Gosset	...	Himself (archive footage)
Antoine Godeau	...	Himself (archive footage)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Randy Jones	...	Himself

Storyline

Shortly after the death of Yves Saint Laurent (1936-2008), his lover Pierre Bergé talks to the camera about their life together, moving chronologically from their meeting when 21-year-old Saint Laurent became creative director at Christian Dior upon the founder's death, through twice-annual unveilings of new collections, life in Marrakesh, Saint Laurent's depression and drug use, sobriety, and retirement. The boxing and auctioning of their vast collection of art brings the story to a close. Archival photos and news footage as well as interviews with a few friends give texture to Bergé's account.

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Plot Keywords:

death | fashion designer | morocco | marrakech morocco | french | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [France] Official site [Japan]

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

13 May 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

O Louco Amor de Yves Saint Laurent

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$37,250, 15 May 2011, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$298,781, 26 June 2011

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films du Lendemain,Les Films de Pierre,France 3 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

a chilly view of a relationship

"L'Amour Fou" is a documentary narrated by Yves Saint Laurent's romantic and business partner Pierre Berge about the life they shared for 50 years, focusing naturally on Saint Laurent's work but perhaps more surprisingly on the vast collection of paintings, sculptures and objects d'art that they amassed over their years together and, of course, on the love they had for each other. Theirs was a marriage of sorts, perhaps not made in heaven, but enduring and certainly passionate, a testament not just to the stability of gay relationships but of the ability to survive a life lived almost entirely in the spotlight, (though, of course, there were as many guns as roses in the relationship).

It's very simply made, (the director is Pierre Thoretton), with no narration other than Berge's and a few other talking heads from Saint Laurent's life. We are never nudged in any direction but left to make up our own minds. If the film has a fault it's that it never settles on any one point of view and in the end leaves us feeling rather chilly.