As is known before, ANNA WINTOUR has unuqie personal branding etches in the fashion world. And September Issue, a documentary by J.C.Cutler, as a peep into WINTOUR's fashion cosmos the way she sees, brings us WINTOUR's saber-like eyes, almost piercing your body while she's looking straight at you. Unlike the news stories and newspaper features which pulls more mystery on the lengendary editor and her magazine and fashion world she spearheads, this movie demystifies the icon.
The film walks us the smooth storytelling of the magazine from planning to shipping interwoven by narratives, interviews from WINTOUR's workmates & employees(running the gamut of fashion from editors to models to photographers to fashion designers), as testimonials to reinforce WINTOUR's epic clout over magazine AND in the industry, plus her magnetic personality.The story might as well resonates with some magazine fellows and photographers as they could find that feel and experience. But it's not the point.What counts is capturing an illusory and risky realism how professionals think about fashion pioneered by WINTOUR in their eyes, instead of runways and catwalk shows.
For me, a dramatic moment comes when WINTOUR throws a sober face to summoned prestigious cover photograher MARIO TESTINO, who fell short of photo shoot on at his will. Clearly, WINTOUR IS unhappy. That twist paves the way for CODDINGTON's creative reshoot thanks to an ironic kill by also capricious WINTOUR. WINTOUR made a right decisive desion again with her eyes.
Added up to a funny, warm and humaternian touch, texture and emotion is CODDINGTON, with experience spanning over 25 years and coworking with WINTOUR seeing VOGUE growth, ideates the crew （Bob the cameramen goes first） into an imporvised reshoot, metaphorically a fresh a closeup and POVs into the fashion waves symbolized by VOGUE. A closer eye straight on fashion. A little Behind the scene dialogue on whether retouch BOB's belly or not delivers another intersting dimension and to personalities of WINTOUR and CODDINGTON. They ARE humans and accessible.And CODDINGTON is funnier that icewoman.
In the film, eveyone shows obedience to WINTOUR, and the men looks womennish. Frankingly dismaying. Why? Partly because WINTOUR is much too powerful,even Queen falls behind her. And she is an super-over-arching fashion authority with laser-percing eyes.
After finishing up the movie and this review, I feel myself being in thrall with WINTOUR. Like a fan.
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