Angelina Jolie in "Couture": A Film Where Fashion Meets Truth

Paris. Haute couture. Behind the scenes, where the sparkle of the runway collides with tension, tears, and personal dramas. This is exactly where the new film Couture takes us, making its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival. And if you think this is just another glamorous tale of dresses worth tens of thousands of euros—prepare to be surprised.

At the heart of the story is Maxine, an American filmmaker played by Angelina Jolie. She travels to Paris to shoot a video for a fashion show. The paradox? Maxine doesn’t like fashion, seeing it as a waste of resources. Yet circumstances push her to accept: a divorce, a teenage daughter, work on a new feature film, and the sudden news of a serious illness.

In the midst of her own personal storm, Maxine meets two women.
Angèle, a makeup artist with French charm and a strong personality, and Ada, an 18-year-old student and aspiring model from Sudan. Each of them stands at a crossroads, facing decisions that could change their lives forever.

Director Alice Winocour is known for her ability to combine visual beauty with deeper themes. In Couture, she not only showcases dazzling dresses and refined sets but also the darker side of the industry—how the female body is measured, judged, and commodified.
Beneath the film’s elegant exterior lies a quiet yet powerful protest against what fashion so often imposes on women.

The cast also includes Louis Garrel as the cameraman, Vincent Lindon as a doctor, and Ella Rumpf and Agnier Aney as Angèle and Ada. The theatrical release date has yet to be announced, but in addition to Toronto, the film will also screen at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.