Festival of French Films at New Canaan Library Focuses on Fashion Icons

New Canaan presents an afternoon and evening of French films, inviting viewers to immerses themselves in the glamour – and hard work – of the fashion industry. Screenings will take place at 2 pm, 4 pm and 6:30 pm on Monday, July 15 in the Adrian Lamb Room. Please register for this event, online at newcanaanlibrary.org.

2 pm – Mademoiselle C (2012, 100 mins.) A documentary on former Vogue Paris editor-in-chief and fashion stylist Carine Roitfeld, following her career as she moves to New York to launch her own magazine.

4 pm – L’Amour Fou (2009, 100 mins.) This documentary focuses on the life of fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent (1936-2008). His lover Pierre Bergé talks to the camera about their life together, moving chronologically from their meeting when 21-year-old Saint Laurent became creative director at Christian Dior upon the founder’s death, through twice-annual unveilings of new collections, life in Marrakesh, Saint Laurent’s depression and drug use, sobriety, and retirement. The boxing and auctioning of their vast collection of art brings the story to a close. Archival photos and news footage as well as interviews with a few friends give texture to Bergé’s account.

6 pm -Fashions of 1934 (1934, 80 mins.) When the Manhattan investment firm of Sherwood Nash (William Powell) goes broke, he joins forces with his partner Snap (Frank McHugh) and fashion designer Lynn Mason (Bette Davis) to provide discount shops with cheap copies of Paris couture dresses. Lynn discovers that top designer Oscar Baroque (Reginald Owen) gets his inspiration from old costume books, and she begins to create designs the same way, signing each one with the name of an established designer. Threat and counter threat lead to the suggestion of putting on a legitimate show.