ad: Annual 2024 Now Open For Entries!
*

Natalie Portman escapes wedding by helicopter

Published by

Anton Corbijn might be more famous for his band photography and music videos (for seminal acts such as U2 and Depeche Mode), but his recent forays into film, which include the stunning Joy Division biopic “Control,” and last year's “A Most Wanted Man,” appear to have catalysed a desire for dramatic film work. This desire manifests itself here in his first commercial, which stars the supernaturally beautiful Natalie Portman as a bride feeling her own wedding. The spot is for the perfume brand Dior, which Miss Portman has been associated with for several years now. She reprises the titular role of “Miss Dior” in this gorgeous short film produced by Black Label, which has been released in both 60-second and longer “Directors Cut” versions online. This marks the second time the Black Swan actress has played the character on film after the “La Vie en Rose” spot shot by Sofia Coppola in 2013.

Anton Corbijn directs Natalie Portman as “Miss Dior” in his first commercial

*

Whilst this is Dutch triple threat (director, photographer and visual artist) Corbijn's first commercial, it's obvious he's used the creative tricks picked up in his earlier work on this new spot. The spot begins with the Miss Dior character (who also lends her name to the perfume being advertised) walking down the aisle with her father, only to apologise to him at the last minute, cast of her dress and flee her own wedding. The colour then breaks from stark black and white to glorious colour, and Miss Dior is seen escaping via helicopter to be with her handsome lover. It's all very typical and deliriously escapist (and has little, if nothing to do with the product), but then that's what we've come to expect from high-end fragrance commercials, and Corbijn's direction and Portman's natural charisma lend the spot a conviction that other, similar spots lack. The scenery too is breathtaking, with the gorgeous, sweeping shots of the countryside Antibes in France (where the piece was shot) contrasting wonderfully with the classically ornate Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc.

Miss Dior – The Director's Cut

Corbijn waxes lyrical on the spot, which (as one would expect given his background in the arts) he sees as more than a simple TV spot. “She’s not leaving her father,” he said of Miss Dior in the ad, “She’s just leaving a life,” adding that “All the things in your life you sort of, reluctantly I guess, accept and you go this far; that’s when you realise you need your own life.” He also praised Portman's performance; “Natalie is fantastic,” he said, “She gave it everything and it’s a real person there that speaks to more people than only beauty.” He admits “It’s given that she’s a beautiful woman,” but says “There’s an actual person there too, and that really makes the difference.” It's this personality that keeps the spot from feeling like just another over-stylised fragrance ad. The actress herself said “Anton is such an exciting person to work with.” She highlights his “Incredible photography, music videos and films,” and calls him a “Really bold, new wave” director. She adds that “This film is much more physical, I think, than anything (Dior) has done really,” commenting that it almost “Feels like an action hero role.”

This film is much more physical than anything (Dior) has done really” Natalie Portman

*

Black Label executive producer Dom Freeman, said “In both feature films and commercials you are working with creative people to find the best way to get your story or message across.” He feels “A Director of Anton’s calibre has the ability to get that message or story across in 30 seconds, 3 minutes or a 120 minute movie, even in a single frame, which Anton’s photography is proof of.” He also has a lot to say about the shoot's location, and says they were very fortunate to bag the Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc. They were struck, however, with the challenge of “Waiting for a life-sized, gold-plated mammoth skeleton by Damien Hirst to be removed from the location, so that could replace it with a giant mirrored wall with thousands of hand-cut orchids.” Sounds like just another day at the office to us!

Comments

More Leaders

*

Leaders

Inspiring Female Leaders: An Interview with RAPP CEO Gabrielle Ludzker

Gabrielle Ludzker is not just any CEO. The current head honcho at customer experience agency RAPP has spent her career breaking away from the traditional corporate CEO stereotype. and leads to inspire rule breakers. Gabby is an inspirational rule...

Posted by: Benjamin Hiorns
ad: Annual 2024 Now Open For Entries!