嗨，我是艾克叔公
劇情摘要
一位即將推出個人首部電影的美國導演麥克絲、遠渡重洋來到巴黎開始發展的南蘇丹模特兒艾達、穿梭在各個時尚工作現場卻擁有文字創作夢的法國彩妝師安潔，三個人因為巴黎時裝週服飾品牌的服裝秀與電影短片這份工作上有了交集。面臨到未知的初次體驗，她們將會遇到什麼遭遇呢 ?
時尚產業背後其龐大重要成員們
由法國導演Alice Winocour自編自導的美法電影高訂人生COUTURE，故事焦點不放在過去常見的設計師，而是多支線故事描述時尚產業下較少為人熟知的幾個職業。除了模特兒，本片另外兩條支線-彩妝師、時尚影片導演，就是相較之下比較沒有那麼受到關注的業別。
其實除了這三位主角故事外，我私心覺得還可以多加一位角色故事線，那就是精品品牌的高級訂製服工匠。年紀輕輕的克莉絲汀，即將在這季巴黎時裝週獻出她個人親手縫製的高級訂製服。高級訂製服製作過程是透過這些技藝精湛的工匠們，將品牌設計師的創意在各種類型材質實現出來，其製作過程所耗費的工作時數、原物料，以及所謂的「客製化」，是成衣系列、平價服飾和快時尚無法比擬的。
當然，如果再加入一位故事線，可能就會變得有點太過擁擠，原本三條故事線也會因此變壓縮到。因此電影只有帶到她一開始興奮地期待自己從頭到尾自己獨自完成的作品，即將誕生並且在巴黎時裝週上公開。中途陸續遇到模特兒試裝落差很大，她為了自己的夢想也可以到不吃不睡的情況，其時間壓力下更讓她感覺無力。所幸最後順利在時間內修改完成，並且交由艾達來詮釋。
時尚產業除了我們在表面上所見的名利雙收的設計師與模特兒們，其背後可是擁有多個職業共同組成。美髮師、選角導演，還是品牌設計團隊，這些人用力地往前奔跑，努力地將自己的夢想逐漸變大，進而實現在自己眼前。
夢想可以大於生命嗎 ?
美國導演麥克絲為了填飽肚子及實現自己的夢想，硬是在自己忙碌的行程中，臨時接下巴黎時裝週開幕影片的導演工作，沒想到此時醫院通知自己罹患了乳癌。由於病情嚴重，因此法國醫生建議排開所有工作行程，盡快接受手術且化療。罹患癌症是天打雷劈，但是要她即將停工更是難以接受，更何況是自己夢想即將成真的那一天。
她認為醫生無法理解她，醫生確實也真的無法理解她，還有什麼會比生命更重要 ? 可是對麥克絲而言，或許這是她從小的願望，也許這是她費盡多少光陰與力氣，好不容易才挨到這一天，竟然要她停止繼續實現夢想、繼續將夢想實體化。一般而言，生命確實是所有事物選擇的第一位，畢竟沒有生命，其他什麼都沒想。
但我換位思考，罹癌是無法改變的事實，存活率也沒有想像中的高，如果自己在化療過程中有意外，或撐不過，豈不是兩頭空 ? 抑或者現在這段時間停下來化療，成功存活率真的就如同醫生預估的嗎 ? 命運之前，誰也無法說個準。既然剩下的時間不多，那就好好把握自己還能將心中的小宇宙燃燒殆盡的那一刻。未來即使離開人間，自己的夢想也實現了。
不是我的夢想還稱得上是我的夢想嗎 ?
從非洲南蘇丹隻身前往法國巴黎的艾達，為了負擔家庭開銷、弟弟的學費(我猜)，只好自己來到完全陌生的國度，展開她其實沒什麼興趣的模特兒事業。我想導演應該有特別針對演員本身故事進行劇本修改，飾演艾達的南蘇丹模特兒Anyier Anei在16歲被發掘，因為父母反對只能先作罷。兩年後是大學生身分的Anyier，某天突然念頭一改，決定主動出擊跟經紀公司聯繫。最後要飛去法國時跟劇中的艾達類似，她騙父親自己取得學校巴黎留學計畫的錄取資格。
試想如果是自己一人前往陌生、語言不通的國家，會抱著什麼樣的心情呢 ? 也許是我這把年紀了，看到艾達自己一個人搭大眾運輸工具到經紀公司、模特兒公寓，然後開始馬不停蹄地試鏡。難怪她在巴黎前幾天就跟媽媽抱怨自己不適合這行業，不適合待在這地方。但是，為了家裡，她又能如何呢 ? 只能先將自己的夢想-醫學擱置一旁。會有實現的一天嗎 ? 不知道，應該沒有人會知道答案 !
不得不說導演前置作業田園調查做得很好，就我印象確實許多出身自無名小鎮的知名模特兒們，很多都是為了負擔家計只好讓自己勇敢。或許對我或其他人來說，「模特兒」這個職業是人生夢想之一。但是，對這些模特兒而言，必須忍受產業各種不平等對待與歧視，孤身在異鄉的孤寂，為的只是能有機會接到好工作替家裡減輕負擔。家人，變成她們必須堅持下去的動力。
真的是自己的夢想嗎 ?
現職彩妝師的安潔，內心有個開始壓抑不住的文字創作慾望。從自己工作環境從中獲取靈感，希望能將自己所見識到的一切與大眾分享。可惜當「夢想」、「現實」兩個擺在眼前，與艾達相同，她也只能先選擇現實，讓自己存到更多本金，才能讓自己的「夢想」不再只是存活於腦海中的「夢想」。
不得不說，與前面三位相比，她的現實跟夢想真正衝突性已經降低許多。當然，接案彩妝師必須盡量讓自己行程排滿滿，才有薪水活過這個月。好不容易下班，身疲力盡的回到家，只想癱軟在沙發上划手機，難道還要強迫自己坐起來，回想今天的所見所聞，好好整理思緒一筆一畫寫下來(或用電腦打字)。
當然，如果真的是自己的夢想，一磚一瓦慢慢搭建起來，即使需要犧牲自己的閒暇時光，相信過程期待與喜悅的心情，會大過於被迫與不適。反之，如果在追求夢想實體化的道路上，經常感覺到自己生活很大區塊被犧牲，總覺得夢想只是一個遙不可及的目標。那，只能遺憾地說，或許這個「夢想」並不是你發自內心真的所想要的「夢想」。
推薦時尚、模特兒迷必看 !
還沒進戲院前，光看預告還想說會不會以裘莉的美國導演為主軸，其他都只是穿插故事的副線。幸好，擔心是多餘的。如同前面提到，電影算是真的以三位主角(稍微)平均的來穿插故事劇情。如果有看到電影預告、電影海報，時尚迷應該可以很快認出裘莉站的位置正是位於巴黎康朋街31號的總店內鏡面旋轉樓梯。
是的，高訂人生COUTURE雖是虛擬故事，不過她們接洽的品牌就是香奈兒Chanel。因此不光是鏡面樓梯入鏡，沙龍內的陳列擺飾也一同收錄。令我感到驚喜的是，因為工匠裁縫師克莉絲汀的故事線，所以連品牌工坊工作室與所有工作人員皆有入鏡。當然，電影短片中女主角艾達穿的，由克莉絲汀縫製的也是香奈兒。
因為劇情會帶到新模特兒初踏進產業的情況，因此可以看到製作單位找來真的都是日前會參與四大時裝週的模特兒。這個一定要給大大鼓掌，因為過去許多討論關於模特兒，幾乎都不會找模特兒來飾演。對我來說，如果想傳達模特兒產業的劇情片，邀請日前還在線上的模特兒是完全合情合理，畢竟能展現這個產業獨特的外型要求，散發那種氣息，真的只能邀請真的模特兒來演。
至於有哪些知名模特兒登場，就等妳(你)進戲院認真尋找她們的蹤影囉 !
總之，時尚迷、模特兒迷，趁還在上映時進戲院好好欣賞-高訂人生COUTURE
English version
Which Should Come First in Life — Dreams or Reality? COUTURE (FULL SPOILERS)
Synopsis
Maxine, an American filmmaker preparing to release her first feature film.
Ada, a South Sudanese model who travels all the way to Paris to begin her career.
Angèle, a French makeup artist working backstage at fashion shows while secretly dreaming of becoming a writer.
The three women cross paths through a fashion show and a short film project during Paris Fashion Week. Facing unfamiliar experiences and uncertain futures, what kind of challenges will they encounter?
The Many Essential People Behind the Fashion Industry
Directed and written by Alice Winocour, COUTURE chooses not to focus on fashion designers — the usual center of fashion films. Instead, the movie highlights several lesser-known professions within the fashion industry through multiple storylines.
Besides the model storyline, the film also focuses on a makeup artist and a fashion film director, two careers that rarely receive the same spotlight.
Personally, I almost wished the film had included an additional major storyline: the haute couture artisan.
Christine, a young seamstress, is preparing to debut a couture piece she handmade entirely by herself during Paris Fashion Week.
Haute couture only exists because of these highly skilled artisans. They turn designers’ ideas into reality through fabric, embroidery, and craftsmanship. The amount of labor, materials, and customization involved is something ready-to-wear collections, affordable brands, and fast fashion simply cannot compare to.
Of course, adding another fully developed storyline might have made the movie feel overcrowded. Still, the brief moments we see of Christine are memorable. She begins full of excitement and pride, waiting for the moment her work will finally appear on the runway. But reality quickly hits — fittings go wrong, time pressure builds, and she pushes herself to the edge without sleep or proper rest just to keep her dream alive.
Thankfully, she finishes the dress in time, and Ada ultimately becomes the one wearing it.
The fashion industry is never only about famous designers and glamorous models. Behind everything are countless people — hairstylists, casting directors, makeup artists, atelier workers, and creative teams — all running forward together, trying to slowly turn their dreams into something real.
Can Dreams Become More Important Than Life Itself?
Maxine, the American director, accepts the job of directing the opening film for Paris Fashion Week while already juggling an exhausting schedule. She desperately wants both financial stability and the chance to fulfill her dream.
Then suddenly, she receives devastating news: she has breast cancer.
Because of the severity of her condition, her doctor strongly advises her to stop working immediately and begin surgery and chemotherapy as soon as possible.
Getting diagnosed with cancer is already life-shattering.
But for Maxine, being forced to stop working feels almost equally unbearable.
Her dream is finally becoming real — after years of struggle, sacrifice, and waiting — and now she is being asked to walk away from it.
The doctor cannot understand her.
But perhaps Maxine cannot fully accept the doctor’s perspective either.
After all, what could possibly be more important than life itself?
Yet from Maxine’s point of view, filmmaking may have been the thing she devoted her entire existence to. Maybe this was the one moment she had spent her whole life trying to reach. To suddenly abandon it feels almost impossible.
Normally, survival should always come first. Without life, nothing else matters.
But when I tried putting myself in her position, I started thinking differently.
Cancer is already an unchangeable reality. Survival is never guaranteed. What if she stops everything for treatment, only for fate to take everything away anyway? What if she never even gets the chance to finish what she started?
In front of destiny, nobody truly knows the answer.
So perhaps, if time is limited, the only thing left is to burn every last piece of your inner universe while you still can.
And if one day you eventually leave this world, at least your dream existed once in reality.
If It Was Never My Dream, Can It Still Be Called a Dream?
Ada leaves South Sudan and arrives alone in Paris, hoping to support her family and pay for her younger brother’s education. Ironically, modeling is not even something she seems particularly passionate about.
I actually suspect director Alice Winocour partially rewrote the character around actress and model Anyier Anei herself.
Like Ada, Anyier was discovered at sixteen, but had to give up modeling at first because her parents opposed it. Two years later, while attending university, she changed her mind and contacted agencies herself. When she finally flew to France, she reportedly told her father she had been accepted into a Paris study program — almost exactly like Ada in the film.
Imagine arriving alone in a completely unfamiliar country where you do not even speak the language fluently. What kind of emotions would you carry with you?
Maybe I am getting older, but watching Ada ride public transportation alone between castings, agencies, and model apartments genuinely made me emotional.
No wonder she calls her mother just days after arriving in Paris, saying she does not belong in this industry or this city.
But for the sake of her family, what choice does she really have?
Her own dream — studying medicine — can only be pushed aside for now.
Will she ever return to it?
Nobody truly knows.
I honestly think the director’s research was incredibly accurate. Many famous models from small towns or difficult backgrounds entered the industry simply because they needed to help support their families.
For many outsiders, “being a model” sounds glamorous and dreamlike.
But for the models themselves, it often means enduring discrimination, loneliness, instability, and the emotional isolation of living far away from home — all for the possibility of landing enough work to ease financial pressure on the people they love.
In the end, family becomes the reason they keep going.
Is It Really My Dream?
Angèle, the makeup artist, slowly realizes she can no longer suppress her desire to write.
Inspired by the people and environments she encounters through work, she wants to turn her observations into stories and share them with others.
But when “dreams” and “reality” stand side by side, reality usually wins first.
Like Ada, Angèle chooses financial survival. She keeps working, keeps saving money, hoping that one day her dream will become something more than just an idea living inside her head.
Compared to the other characters, though, her conflict between reality and dreams feels less extreme.
Still, freelance makeup artists survive by constantly filling their schedules. By the time work ends and she returns home exhausted, collapsing onto the couch already feels like the only thing her body wants.
At that point, can she really force herself to sit back up and start writing?
But then again, maybe that question itself reveals the answer.
If something is truly your dream, even sacrificing free time to slowly build it piece by piece may still feel exciting rather than painful.
On the other hand, if pursuing a dream constantly feels like losing important pieces of your life — if the dream always feels distant and emotionally draining — then perhaps, sadly, it was never truly your dream in the first place.
A Must-Watch for Fashion and Model Lovers
Before entering the theater, I worried the film might focus mostly on Maxine, the American director played by Angelina Jolie, while the other stories remained secondary.
Thankfully, that was not the case.
The movie balances the three protagonists surprisingly well.
If you have already seen the trailer or poster, fashion fans will probably recognize the famous mirrored staircase inside Chanel’s boutique at 31 Rue Cambon in Paris almost immediately.
Yes — although COUTURE is fictional, the fashion house featured throughout the film is Chanel.
That means the movie not only showcases the iconic staircase, but also the salon interiors, atelier spaces, and working environments inside the brand itself.
One of the most exciting parts for me was seeing the couture workshop scenes through Christine’s storyline. The film even includes actual artisans and atelier staff members at work.
And naturally, the couture piece worn by Ada in the film is also Chanel.
Since the story follows a newcomer entering the modeling industry, the production team also cast real working runway models who actively participate in today’s major fashion weeks.
Honestly, this deserves huge applause.
Many movies about models rarely cast actual models. But if a film truly wants to capture the atmosphere of the industry — the physical presence, the energy, the unique sense of distance and beauty — then casting real models simply makes sense.
As for which famous models appear in the film…
I will leave that for you to discover yourself in the theater.
In short, if you love fashion, models, or stories about chasing dreams inside creative industries, COUTURE is absolutely worth watching while it is still showing in theaters.
Closer Media @closermedia
電影預告:
https://youtu.be/F16AeRwy5UQ?si=-wadZkEdfkq_1Lof
可樂電影 Cola Films @colafilms
Closer Media @closermedia
導演 & 編劇 : Alice Winocour
演員 :
Angelina Jolie
Anyier Anei
Louis Garrel
Ella Rumpf
Garance Marillier
Photo Credit :
today.line.me
www.hkfrenchfilmfestival.com
cinemaperspective.com
www.facebook.com/colafilmselection
Source :
wiki
www.imdb.com
Translator: Chatgpt-Gi
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