Don't you know I'm Coco?

Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky arrives during an unfortunate glut of films about fashion icon Coco Chanel. Directed by French filmmaker Jan Kounen, this really does not add anything new to the mix. Instead of focussing on her career, the film looks at one of the more controversial chapters of her life; the affair with Russian composer Igor Stravinsky (Mads Mikkelsen).

Opening in Paris, 1913, Chanel (Anna Mouglalis) attends the premiere of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring and is enchanted. But the revolutionary work is too modern, too radical and a near-riot ensues. Seven-years later, she is now a rich and successful woman who is struggling to cope with the death of her lover. By chance she meets Stravinsky again, who is a penniless refugee living in exile in Paris after the Russian Revolution. The two artists bond, and Chanel offers Stravinsky the use of her villa so he will be able to work, and he moves in straight away, with his children and wife. It is not long before the two begin an affair and tensions in the house start to rise to the surface.
For a film about a `passionate love affair', the main problem is there does not seem to be any love between the couple. Whatever attraction there is, the audience are not privy to it. Instead, the relationship comes across as a shallow and pointless, making the audience wonder why the heck these two `creative types' ever got involved with each other in the first place. Besides the occasional glance, the characters barely utter a word to each other or have a meaningful conversation, casting their affair as a purely physical venture.

Mouglalis' portrayal of Chanel makes her appear about as interesting as a bathroom tile and Mikkelsen manages to out shine her in every scene. Visually, Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky is beautiful, with the combination of sets and costumes breathtaking.
The detail and effort behind every lighting decision, every set piece and every clothing item is carefully thought through and expertly executed.

Kounen is a skilled director, he is imaginative and he links the film together superbly.
But his talent is little substitute for a flat, cold story that makes you question whether it needed to be told.

Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky opens next Thursday, April 15.