Film Reviews

The September Issue

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• Details: US / 90mins (PG).

Given that The Devil Wears Prada was such a success it was inevitable that a documentary on Vogue and its editor Anna Wintour would follow suit. Where The September Issue excels in a behind-the-scenes look at the world's biggest fashion magazine, it fails in doing the same with its editor, called here "the most powerful woman in the world."
"Vogue is a church and Anna is Pope." The September issue is the biggest issue Vogue releases in the year: "September is the January in fashion" goes one of the many sound bites this documentary throws up. Kicking off months before the issue goes to press, an issue that sees Sienna Miller as cover girl, this documentary is meticulous in depicting the events in the run up as Wintour is in putting the magazine together. Wintour is very hands-on, choosing every article of clothing and picking every image that goes into the magazine. This micro-management attitude clashes with her best friend and colleague - fashion director Grace Coddington.
The September Issue is an interesting and sometimes fascinating peek into the cutthroat world of fashion (an intern is encouraged to be nasty because "if you're nice, you'll lose") and what it takes to put together one issue of Vogue, but documentary maker Culter ultimately fails in his quest in getting something from Wintour; her reputation as an "ice woman" is deserving. A series of talking heads with Wintour offer no real insight to the woman but there is one moment where Wintour lets her guard down when she talks about her siblings and how they aren't amused with her choice of career. Wintour stares off into the distance, seemingly upset at the thought of it but Culter doesn't push her, doesn't attempt to delve deeper into that sadness. That's just poor documentary making. Wintour's daughter is also interviewed but the reasons why she isn't following her mother into the fashion world aren't explored either. The better subject is Coddington, a former model who is very open with Culter.
A must for fashion aficionados who will go along for only the endless parade of clothes, The September Issue will disappoint those looking for something a little deeper. Then again, this is the fashion industry.

Review by Gavin Burke