« A fertile dialogue with the cinema »

PostED ON OCTOBER 16

Bruno Pavlovsky, President of Chanel Fashion Activities and Chanel SAS, explains the common history that the fashion house, official partner of the Lumière festival, shares with the cinema.

What are the historical links between Chanel and the cinema?

I am struck by the extent to which cinema and Chanel have continued to support each other, to travel throughout the 20th century and up to the present day at the same rhythm, to multiply influences, and to create mirror effects that show and anticipate the transformations of the status and roles of women in society. It is also remarkable that, following Gabrielle Chanel, the two artistic directors of the house, Karl Lagerfeld and then Virginie Viard, have each had a special history with the cinema, which has always involved actresses and filmmakers. Among a thousand "historical" examples, I could cite Gabrielle Chanel's collaborations with Jean Renoir, Luchino Visconti, Robert Bresson and Alain Resnais, or, in the modern era, those of Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard with Pedro Almodóvar, Penélope Cruz, Olivier Assayas, Kristen Stewart, Sofia Coppola and Anton Corbijn.

What are the recent collaborations between Chanel and the world of cinema?

Chanel supported Leos Carax's film Annette, which won a prize at the 74th Cannes Film Festival, as well as Flore Vasseur's documentary film, Bigger Than Us, which has just been released in theatres. Kristen Stewart was also dressed by the brand for Pablo Larrain's long-awaited movie, Spencer. 

Why form a partnership with the Lumière festival? 

Chanel and the Lumière festival share common values and a common vision based on heritage and supporting creation. Chanel is happy and proud to contribute to making leading figures of French and international cinema more widely known, whether they are present in Lyon to meet the public during the Master classes or they have participated in the permanent - and sometimes forgotten - history of women filmmakers, such as the great Japanese actress and director Kinuyo Tanaka.

What does cinema bring to the House of Chanel today?

On red carpets, on the big screen, through films supported by Chanel and garments specifically created or chosen from the House's archives, Chanel has long maintained a fertile dialogue with film. Chanel offers the cinema an accurate and modern illustration of the woman, in step with daily life and her era. In return, the cinema magnifies and immortalizes the look, which actresses use to slip into a role as well as to walk the red carpet, receive an award or simply live from day to day, making Chanel a natural partner for the cinema.

Interview by Aurélien Ferenczi