The First Monday In May Arrives in Theatres
Often referred to as ‘the fashion world’s super bowl’ the Met Gala is always a great party. Named after the day every year when the Met Gala, a celebrity-rich benefit, is held to celebrate the opening of the Costume Institute’s next exhibit. The First Monday In May, the eagerly awaited documentary has finally been released.
Filmmaker Andrew Rossi gives us behind the scenes footage as Anna Wintour plans every detail of last year’s Met Gala, and the Costume Institute’s Andrew Bolton brings 2015’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibition “China: Through The Looking Glass” to life. “I’ve made a lot of films to look to go behind the scenes of institutions that we as a society put on a pedestal,” said Rossi, who is best known for “Page One: Inside the New York Times.” Fashions elite, Karl Lagerfeld, Jean Paul Gaultier and John Galliano, to name just a few, have a major role in the movie. The ongoing debate of whether fashion should be considered art is also not shied away from in this film.
The documentary was chosen to open this year’s Tribeca Film Festival but has been met with mixed reviews – Social Media feeds showing celebrities gushing over the film have flooded the Internet, yet other reviewers have their hesitations. The Washington Post writes: “The First Monday in May isn’t a deep examination of its subjects, but at least it’s breathtaking to look at.” And The New York Times reports “A section concerning Asian stereotypes discusses the vintage film star Anna May Wong, but indiscriminately includes images of Ona Munson in “The Shanghai Gesture.”
The one thing everyone does seem to agree on is that producer, and Vogue’s director of special projects Sylvana Ward Durrett steals the show! The 34-year old Durrett shows elegance and grace in every scene she is in with her ability to handle issues efficiently, and the unreal way she is able to foresee Anna Wintour’s true wishes.“Sylvana is this year’s Grace Coddington,” Vogue contributing editor Lauren Santo Domingo told The NY Post.
Love it or hate it, with the stunning behind the scenes footage, and a clip of Rihanna’s performance, you can at least sit back and pretend you’re included in the greatness.
