Angelina Jolie in Couture @TIFF 50

I absolutely loved this film. Having lived in Paris for two years as an aspiring fashion photographer, everything about Couture felt spot-on and deeply personal to me. Director Alice Winocour has crafted something artsy, unique, and emotionally intense, and Angelina Jolie brings it all to life with such authenticity.

Watching Jolie in this role as Maxine—speaking French, embodying a character so close to her own life—was moving on so many levels. She plays a film director who comes to Paris to make a fashion movie, only to discover she has breast cancer. Knowing Jolie’s real-life history—losing her mother to the disease and undergoing preventative surgery—made the performance even more powerful.

The subplot between Ada, the young African model, played by Anyier Anei and Angèle ,the aspiring writer (who works as a makeup artist) played by Elle Rumpf, struck a chord too. It highlights the toxic pressures the fashion industry places on young women. That theme hit close to home for me—it’s one of the reasons I eventually left fashion behind in Paris and shifted back into acting in London.

Couture isn’t just a film; it’s an experience. It captures the beauty and darkness of the fashion world while telling a story that feels both personal and universal. Winocour’s direction is bold and immersive, and in true French cinema style and Jolie’s performance is unforgettable. As per usual. I felt so lucky to be able to get a ticket to this film for FERNTV because Jolie is aging like fine wine.

4.5/5