IFC Films Acquires Yves Saint Laurent Documentary “L’Amour Fou” For Release In 2011

It was announced today that Pierre Thorentton’s acclaimed French documentary Yves Saint Laurent L’Amour Fou will be released by IFC in 2011. Through rare archives and exclusive images, the project tells the story of Saint Laurent and his life companion Pierre Berge, who decided to sell their private art collection upon Saint Laurent’s death. The documentary recently won the Fipresci International Critics Prize for Special Presentations at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent, known as Yves Saint Laurent (August 1, 1936 – June 1, 2008), was an Algerian-born French fashion designer who was considered one of the greatest names in French fashion in the 20th century. In 1985, Caroline Rennolds Milbank wrote, “The most consistently celebrated and influential designer of the past twenty-five years, Yves Saint Laurent can be credited with both spurring the couture’s rise from its sixties ashes and with finally rendering ready-to-wear reputable”. He is also credited with having introduced the tuxedo suit for women, being the first designer to use ethnic models in his runway shows, and referencing other cultures in his work.  In 1983, Saint Laurent became the first living fashion designer to be honored by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York with a solo exhibition.  In 2001, he was awarded the rank of Commander of the Légion d’Honneur by French president Jacques Chirac.  He retired in 2002 and became increasingly reclusive, living at his homes in Normandy and Morocco with his partner of 50 years, Pierre Bergé, and their French Bulldog Moujik.

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