Dolce and Gabbana’s Devotion revealed on the big screen
No one translates Italian culture to fashion more authentically than Dolce
& Gabbana. From great appreciation for family, cuisine, and religion, to history, art, and artisans, Dolce & Gabbana’s creative work stems from decades of deep respect for Sicilian tradition.
The latest movie by Oscar-winning director Giuseppe Tornatore, Devotion, starring the designer duo, is an ode to Sicily - their ultimate muse. The documentary just completed a tour of screenings through the piazzas of Sicilian towns, following opening night at the Ancient Theatre of Taormina. A city of high significance to Dolce and Gabbana, where their first Haute Couture show took place eight years ago, hosted the premiere at the Taormina Film Festival that kicked off the tour, introduced by the designers and actress Monica Bellucci. Followed by a series of viewings throughout the summer through the most picturesque sites of the island, the screenings were more than just a ‘movie night’. Presentations accompanied by wide-ranging artistic and folklore spectacles, along with gastronomic festivities directed by Dolce and Gabbana, drew the audience into the most tangible connection with the rich culture of ‘Sicilianity’.
Filmed mostly in heart of Palermo, and at the foot of The Cathedral of Monreale (the national monument of Italy), the expert eye of Tornatore pinpoints the most important elements of the designers’ journey from inspiration to creation.
A masterful composition of unreleased music by another Oscar-winning artist, Ennio Morricone (for whom this was one of the last works before passing away in July), brings out Dolce and Gabbana’s deep love for Sicily – a cultural and artistic melting pot, a cross-road between African and European civilizations, and an infinite source of their inspiration.
Photos: Dolce & Gabana
The story, narrated by the designers, unfolds through a mysterious figure observing them at work in the tailor shop (starred by model Chiara Scelsi), revealing otherwise imperceptible sensorial relationships. Dressing of models paralleled with the veneration of saints, paladins painted on the Sicilian carts, frescoes of noble palaces, religious rites, processions, fruits and flowers of Sicily, are reoccurring themes through the movie as some of many inspirations of Dolce and Gabbana’s ready to wear and Alta Moda collections.
The documentary depicts elements of the unique universe of the designers’ knowledge and emotions contained in the creations. Taking the audience through their path in fashion, in which cultures, languages, and stories are woven together, the documentary gives away the most intimate details of their creative process, from initial ideas inspired by the island, to staging breathtaking fashion shows.
A dreamy tale of inexhaustible design work and the utmost commitment to creating beauty through human touch, which reveals the authentic dimension of Dolce and Gabbana’s genius far from the spotlight, will make its way to global viewers in the future.