High & Low - John Galliano
Fearless fashion designer John Galliano took the world by storm with his rock and roll style, only for his controversial opinions to irrevocably damage his career. Now, get the inside scoop from the lives he changed, for better or worse, and from the enfant terrible himself.
Attendees of both screenings will get the chance to win tickets to Fashion District NW's upcoming fashion show! And make sure to come all gussied up to the May 15 screening because Fashion District NW will be hosting a free after-party at Hotel Theodore in celebration of Seattle's fashion scene.
Oscar®-winning director Kevin Macdonald opens his documentary about the once-acclaimed fashion designer John Galliano with the 2011 video of the offensive and antisemitic rant he drunkenly spewed at his favorite bar in the Jewish quarter of Paris. Right away we know this movie will be as much about the fall of the fashion star as his rise, and whether or not it’s possible for him to redeem himself. The fact that there is no definitive answer by the end makes High & Low all the better. But before we know how far he’s fallen, we need to see the heights he achieved. He burst onto the scene not long after graduating when his first collection was a hit. His rise was meteoric, his collections theatrical, and soon he was heading up Givenchy and then Dior. Along the way he accepted more and more responsibility, took on more and more work, partied more and more, and indulged his addictions. A master at surface beauty without always looking for the meaning underneath, he would sometimes get in trouble for shows like “Tramps,” a high-fashion line inspired by the homeless. But throughout his rise to fame, fashion editors and supermodels loved him and loved working with him. Many of them are interviewed for this doc, including Anna Wintour, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, and Charlize Theron. As for the redemption arc, by the end he’s spoken to Jewish leaders to learn just how hurtful and offensive his comments really were, and he tells the camera that he’s learned his lesson. It’s up to you to decide if you believe him.
- Director: Kevin Macdonald
- Principal Cast: Penélope Cruz, John Galliano, Naomi Campbell
- Country: France, USA, United Kingdom
- Year: 2023
- Running Time: 116 min.
- Producer: Kevin Macdonald, Chloe Mamelok
- Cinematographers: Patrick Blossier, David Harriman, Nelson Hume, Magda Kowalczyk
- Editors: Avdhesh Mohla
- Music: Tom Hodge
- Filmography: The Mauritanian (2021), State of Play (2009), The Last King of Scotland (2006)
- Language: English, French
- Has Subtitles: Yes
- US Distributor: MUBI