As part of the retrospective “William Klein: Films, etc.”, this screening invites you to (re)discover the films “Qui êtes-vous Polly Maggoo ?” and “Le business et la mode”.
Le business et la mode 15 minutes, 1962 Directed by William Klein An uncompromising report on Americans’ fascination with French haute couture, and on the very close commercial ties between the two countries in the field of fashion. This report for ORTF was made for the presentation of Yves Saint-Laurent’s second collection. Qui êtes-vous Polly Maggoo ? 98 minutes, 1966 Directed by William Klein Screened in 35mm In the imaginary TV series Qui êtes-vous ?, Polly Maggoo is the pseudo-portrait of the top model. In this first feature film, William Klein has fun creating a fake documentary, with the devastating satirical humor for which he is known. The central character, Polly, played by model Dorothy McGowan, attracts the desires and ambitions of the small world scheming within fashion and media. Klein, who had just walked away from French television and would soon stop working for Vogue, uses the film to settle scores with circles he knew well. He skewers, all at once, the society-press star and her snobbish followers, television journalists (Philippe Noiret and Jean Rochefort), the prince ruling over an operetta kingdom who wants to marry Polly, the designer of unwearable metal dresses… Several real-life personalities of the time must, quite rightly, have felt targeted by the film’s caricature. While visually tied to the excitement of the sixties, the film remains current and corrosive today.
Price: From 0 to 14 euros.
Source: paris.fr — photo: Prod DB © Delpire Productions