Valentino: The Last Emperor is a 2008 documentary film produced and directed by Matt Tyrnauer, a special correspondent for Vanity Fair magazine. The film is an exploration of the singular world of Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani. The film documents the dramatic closing act of Valentino's career, tells the story of his life, and explores the larger themes affecting the fashion business. At the heart of the film is the relationship between Valentino and his business partner and companion of 50 years, Giancarlo Giammetti.
Production
In production from June 2005 to July 2007, the filmmakers shot over 250 hours of footage with exclusive access to Valentino and his entourage. "We were let in to the inner circle, but we had to stick it out for a long time, practically move in, to capture the truly great moments," says Tyrnauer. "Valentino is surrounded by a tight-knit family of friends and employees, but, eventually, their guard came down and they forgot there was a camera crew in the room."[2]
"Valentino was one of the first designers to make himself the inspirational figure at the center of the story he was telling," says Tyrnauer. "He is a born dreamer and the last true couturier, who let us in on his creative process and also let us in on the life he built around him to sustain this process," adds Tyrnauer. "He lives as lavishly as his clients and set a standard for the industry. He shuts out all that is not beautiful, and we followed him around the world to capture that special world."[3]