Reviewed by Ramona Prioleau

McQueen is a biographical documentary film that provides insight into the life and career of British designer Alexander McQueen and is based on archival footage and interviews with his friends and family,.

With McQueen, director Ian Bonhôte does what all good documentary filmmakers should; he lets the text speak for itself. Though the interviews and archival footage are situated in a certain way to tell a story, there is no grandstanding or coaching to be done. Bonhôte does not need to walk the audience through it; instead, it is all there on screen. The oddity and brilliance of an artist’s life cut too short is there to watch, and Bonhôte needs only to get it in front of our eyes. He does so in a fantastic way, and the interviews and secondary sources elevate McQueen’s own image. The film has the energy of Alexander himself, which is the highest of compliments. It is so successful in painting a full picture of man, that it feels like the designer could have made it himself.

This the real success of McQueen is that it doesn’t simply tell the story of an artist, it is art itself. Anyone with an interest — whether it be high fashion superfans or curious newcomers — should check this one out. M

August 2018