For the most part, short films and ads for fashion house tend to be pretty empty, boasting lots of flash and big stars, but little in the way of substance. But icon Karl Lagerfeld is hoping to turn that notion on its head with “Once Upon A Time…,” an 18-minute complete short film, starring Keira Knightley (chosen by Lagerfeld to be the face of Coco Mademoiselle) and boasting an actual story, to go with some impressive production values.
Co-starring Clotilde Hesme and model Brad Kroenig among others, the film finds Knightley playing Coco Chanel herself, in the beginning of her career as she’s just beginning to make a name for herself. It’s pretty whimsical stuff, in some nicely rendered black-and-white (solid set design too), aided by music from the opera “Tosca,” and you’re unlikely to see anything this year where hats feature so prominently. A cut above the usual, this one is definitely worth a spin. Take a coffee break and watch below.