Valentino: The Last Emperor

Not a biography of Hollywood silent star Rudolph, but a documentary portrait of well-known haute couture fashion designer Valentino Garavani, Matt Tyrnauer's film was shot in 2007 during the months preceding a huge celebration in honor of Valentino's 45th anniversary in the business. Valentino: The Last Emperor has some interesting “plot” aspects—especially the relationship between Garavani and his longtime partner and companion Giancarlo Giammetti (the pair squabble like an old married couple), and the machinations surrounding the corporate takeover of his firm (that ultimately led him to retire)—but most of the film is devoted to a splashy overview of Valentino's lifestyle and perfectionist working methods, depicting him as a fawned-over obsessive whose every directive is instantly obeyed. Tyrnauer successfully captures his subject's imperial manner, emphasizing Valentino's thoughtless treatment of others, as well as his absolute dismissal of the camera when he feels a situation may be getting too tense. It's also amusing to watch his chief seamstress—a feisty, poison-tongued old lady named Antonietta—berating her staff (she's as much a martinet as Valentino). Serious devotees of the world of high fashion may be drawn to this, but for most viewers, the film will be rather like one of Valentino's creations: all surface glamour. Optional. [Note: DVD extras include the behind-the-scenes featurettes “A Perfect Life: Around the World with Valentino” (30 min.), “The Last Collection” (8 min.), “A Red Dress” (8 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a so-so doc.] (F. Swietek)