Angelina Jolie Shines in Raw Performance in Alice Winocour's 'Couture'

Angelina Jolie is back in full swing, delivering one of her most captivating performances in years, in Alice Winocour's heart-rending new drama, "Couture." Set against the backdrop of Paris Fashion Week, the film is a moving exploration of cancer, as well as a thoughtful commentary on the often unseen work women perform within the glamorous world of fashion.

Alice Winocour, born in the city of love, Paris, honed her screenwriting skills at La Fémis before conjuring up three short films and co-writing the engaging drama "Ordinary People," in 2009, alongside Vladimir Perišić. Winocour then stepped into the director's chair, making waves with the biographical film "Augustine," which got a standing ovation at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. Her next project, "Disorder," a riveting neo-noir thriller, also premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2015.

Winocour continued to make an impression in the film world when the Turkish drama "Mustang," which she co-wrote, was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in the same year. The astronaut drama "Proxima," starring Eva Green, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2019. Virginie Efira walked away with the César Award for Best Actress for her role in Winocour's drama "Revoir Paris," which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022.

Drawing from Winocour's own cancer experience, "Couture" follows independent horror film director Maxine, dazzlingly embodied by Jolie, who is diagnosed with breast cancer while attending Paris Fashion Week. Weaving together Maxine's journey with the stories of a makeup artist turned aspiring writer, Angèle (Ella Rumpf), and a young South Sudanese model, Ada (Anyier Anei), among others, the film delves into the intimate, intricate lives of several women navigating the glitzy yet cutthroat world of fashion.

In a recent interview, Winocour revealed how she and Jolie bonded over their personal experiences with the disease, fueling their collaborative efforts. The authenticity of shared personal experience breathed life into the narratively complex film. As she recalls, filming was a profoundly emotional endeavor for both actors and audience alike, with Jolie's powerful, internal performance capturing heart and imagination.

Furthermore, Winocour remarked on the unique angle of "Couture" as a film about labor, focusing on the unglamorous lives of those who work out of the spotlight in the fashion industry. The movie highlights the true reality of a "glamorous" industry filled with hard workers, often overlooked or not considered at all.

Winocour carries this exploration of labor, functional beauty, and the trials of womanhood throughout the film. She exposes the struggles and camaraderie of models – the toll on their bodies and their intimacy with pain – and the dichotomy between the glitzy image and the grueling reality of the fashion world. This fine blend of beauty and terror encapsulates the essence of "Couture.”

Winocour also speaks about the duality of the world within the glamour of fashion. The film celebrates the collective, the bonds of empathy, and the multifaceted aspects of women's lives, shining a light on stories not often told but equally worthy of representation. It also explores the intricate power dynamics between men and women in a world dominated by males and defies preconceived narratives.

When asked about her cinematic inspiration, Winocour cites Agnès Varda and Kathryn Bigelow among her muses, but also admires many male filmmakers. She aspires to shatter industry norms and looks forward to a time when gender no longer needs to be a discussion in the business of filmmaking.