| THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE |
| Written by Sian Rafferty |
| Sunday, 12 July 2009 10:33 |
 Darling; it takes a lot of upkeep to maintain your position as The World's Iciest Woman. Always maintain your composure... and when a little anonymity is needed, try a pair of oversized sunglasses. Keep your "I am not amused"-attitude with a severe bob. Who cares if it's totally unflattering. Just make it yours... and the number one rule? You don't need Botox darling, if your face is fixed in a permanent frown of discontent. Smiling causes lines, you know. Anna Wintour has cultivated a widely recognised, public persona. A reputation so fierce, she even spawned a movie with Meryl Streep playing her likeness. Therefore, it’s hardly surprising that the intro to a new documentary starring the lady herself; 'The September Issue', is solely concerned with depicting colleagues nearly fainting with terror, designers almost grovelling on their knees... and finally; Wintour's icy gaze which cripples grown men without even having to lift an eyebrow. This is what I expected when I entered the theatre. Either the total proliferation of this ideal, or two hours of trying to show she is actually just an unhappy woman, who just wants to be understood. Turns out that 'The September Issue', is neither. The plot mainly focuses on the team at 'Vogue' magazine trying to assemble the September issue of the magazine; the biggest and most important issue of the year. Its real focus is on depicting the teamwork and relationships between the characters at Vogue, a task much more relevant than a movie simply focusing on its famous leader. In terms of Wintour, she manages to come off totally aloof and a little disconnected from the world with her attempts at explaining her motivations and personal history, all seeming a little weak and unnecessary. The little emotion she does show in relation to her daughter or overachieving brothers and sisters, seems flat and scripted. As an audience, we never grow to understand her as a person. Furthermore, clever camera work and artful edits creates pauses and tension which may have never been there in the first place, but help the characters fall neatly into their roles of the hunter and the hunted. Depite all this, the extent of Wintour's power and genius cannot be denied. This is a woman who is in total control of what we all wear each season. Feathers this summer, or leather for the winter; they are all brain-children of the woman with the ever-present bob. One of the most outstanding and amusing parts of this film was literally seeing designers like Gaultier and Yves Saint Laurent, quaking in their little boots as they showcased their new line to her. I for one, had no idea this woman was so incredibly influential.  However, Wintour aside; the rest of the team at Vogue really stole the show. Yes there were the expected scenes of men breaking down and crying after a meeting with the Queen of Cold, yet at the same time people emerged out of the shadows to stand up and confront the woman. Vogue isn't a one-woman show, after all. The woman who totally stole the show, was Vogue's main Fashion Editor; Grace Coddington. When Grace first appeared, I couldn't help but think her matronly and old-fashioned. I confess I couldn't understand how she fit into this crazy and cruel world. Originally a Welsh convent girl who moved to New York to model in the fifties, her incredible career at Vogue spans fourty years. This woman is a living, breathing genius, who is not just incredibly talented but is also actually a lovely person. She is the yin to Wintour's tyrannical and knife-sharp yang. One of those rare creatures left over from another era who still believes in the art of telling whimsical, sumptuous and etheral stories through her pictures. Of course like any good artist she constantly battles the machine (Wintour), for the right to show her work the way she imagined it. This conflict; really wrenches the audiences heart and captures our attention. Other characters like Andre Leon Talley are largely responsible for the comedic moments in the film. It is never really explained how he contributes to the magazine, yet his outrageous and diva-ish behaviour balances out some of the more tense moments in the film. Classic Andre; includes his giant floral, purple kaftan and hopelessly playing tennis with his little Louis Vuitton lunch box and towel. No matter what his real purpose is, the man sure puts a smile on your face. 'The September Issue' creates an untouchable and perfect world with the necessary glamorous city shots and even more glamorous cat walks. It's everything a fashionista could want in a movie; drama, humour, yet at the same time presenting an enjoyable ride through the inner working of a big-time magazine without the rose-tinted glasses. People get hurt, people cry... But in the end this is one big family who work together in a way which couldn't work any other way. Understanding of why Wintour is where she is and how she works, yet also how she is just one cog in an incredibly complex working, complimented perfectly by those surrounding her to create the genius which is Vogue, are among the issues explored.  |
