There is a wrong perception that as long as you are famous, have enough money, and can afford a luxurious life, it means you own the world. We don’t have to look far to see this — even here in Toronto, at the Toronto International Film Festival, you can spot the admiration in people’s faces when they see a celebrity. But do we truly know the struggles those celebrities endure? Do we realize the sadness that may hide behind those beautiful green eyes?
Writer-director Alice Winocour introduces three prominent characters: Maxine (Angelina Jolie), Angèle (Ella Rumpf), and Ada (Anyier Anei), an 18-year-old pharmacy student from Nairobi. These women may work together on the same project, but what connects them goes far beyond work — life pushes each of them to the edge of their limits.
For Maxine, the challenge is especially profound. An American film director arriving in Paris to helm a fashion video, she initially dismisses fashion as “useless and unnecessary.” Yet financial burdens weigh heavily on her — she is going through a divorce, raising a teenage daughter, and trying to fund her next film. When devastating medical news strikes, she must decide whether to keep going as if nothing has changed or make a drastic choice for the sake of her family, even as her health deteriorates.
Angèle, a seasoned makeup artist, finds refuge in writing a novel inspired by her industry experiences, while Ada, newly “discovered” as a model, is forced to navigate a brand-new world filled with pressure and uncertainty. Each woman faces life-defining decisions, big and small, that will shape her future.
It’s one of the more difficult films to watch at this year’s festival. Jolie’s portrayal of Maxine hits hard because of the undeniable parallels to her own life struggles, making the experience even more painful and real.
Couture also benefits from a strong ensemble: Louis Garrel as Maxine’s cinematographer, Vincent Lindon as her doctor, and Aurore Clément as a fellow patient. Winocour captures both the allure and the cruelty of the fashion world, exposing how women’s bodies are measured, monetized, and defined. Beneath the elegance lies a quiet but powerful rebellion.
With Couture, Alice Winocour delivers an intimate, striking portrait of women under pressure. Anchored by Angelina Jolie’s raw, unforgettable performance, the film strips away the illusion of glamour and asks us to confront the battles hidden beneath the surface. It is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking, and a reminder that even behind the brightest spotlight, there can be shadows no one sees.