A MANS STORY
Starring: Ozwald Boateng
Director Varon Bonicos
The Story of Fashion Designer Ozwald Boateng
When you’re about to watch a documentary on a fashion icon there are a few things that you expect most notably a lot of drama and an eccentric white man that exudes gay style. When we meet Ozwald he meets none of the preconceived images you will have in your mind. First the man is huge he is of Ghanian descent and looks like he could be a model himself. He is a very heterosexual man who is thriving in an industry that in his role is primarily gay. Ozwald is going through trouble with not only his business but his ex wife. We follow along as Ozwald builds up his empire, finds love and becomes the Creative Director of Givenchy all the while running his own fashion label. Above all else Boateng is an impeccable tailor with swagger to spare he defies every preconceived notion of what or who a designer is or should be. This is a small glimpse into that life. We meet the Man, We meet the fashions and his undeniable passion and lofty standards to deliver an impeccable fit. To hear him speak will make you question your entire wardrobe and make you want to up your game. On the downside it would have been great to see the initial rise of Boateng as he opened his store on Seville row at the age of 28, the youngest tailor to ever open up a shop on this famed street. To see him rise, then fall and then to see him rise even higher would have added some much needed perspective as to how far he truly came, rather than just the rebuild of his empire. Boateng exudes charisma and I wanted to dig deeper into his story. It’s very interesting that when Boateng describes himself the first thing he says is that he is a tailor, not a creative director, not the man behind a fashion label but a tailor obsessed with making the person who wears his clothes feel better about who they are, it’s that commitment to his craft that has caught the eye of many of Hollywood’s elite. I have never owned a suit but if I ever need to make that purchase after watching Boatengs passion for the perfect fit I am left with only one choice.
Grade – 86
