Catherine Deneuve has long been linked with the house of Saint Laurent; the French actress’ friendship with founder Yves Saint Laurent spanned close to half a century, and numbered several seminal fashion moments – famously he created costumes for her character in Luis Buñuel’s 1967 Belle de Jour – but always returned to a deep-founded emotional connection and shared pursuit of beauty. ‘We write to each other often,’ he said in 1992. ‘I call her Catherine, my sweet, and she sends me pale-coloured roses.’
At the 79th Venice International Film Festival – which began earlier this week in the Italian city – Deneuve was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the opening night gala, for what festival director Alberto Barbera called ‘an indisputable talent at the service of a gift for acting, plus a sophisticated and rare beauty, attributes which have helped make her the very symbol of French cinema’. ‘It is a joy to receive this prestigious award at the Venice Festival, which I love and have known for a long time, since Belle de Jour received the Golden Lion in its day,’ the actress said in her acceptance speech.
On Tuesday, 6 September 2022, Saint Laurent will host their own celebration of the actress in Venice, titled ‘Une nuit avec Deneuve’ at the Teatrino di Palazzo Grassi. Hosted by current creative director of the house Anthony Vaccarello – with whom Deneuve has noted a close friendship, appearing in the designer’s S/S 2021 campaign – the evening will comprise a series of screenings of some of the actress’ most memorable movies and roles, from ‘a femme fatale in Mississippi Mermaid, a high-style vampire in The Hunger’ to ‘a liberated woman in Heartbeat’, as Saint Laurent describe. Screenings will run from 11pm until dawn, with Deneuve in attendance, and are open to the public. Two of the films feature costumes designed by Yves Saint Laurent himself.
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‘We know about Yves Saint Laurent’s passion for the cinema, for actresses, and in particular for the very special friendship he had with Catherine Deneuve,’ says Vaccarello of the evening. ‘For ‘Une Nuit avec Deneuve’ I wanted to recreate that rare chemistry that sometimes occurs between a gifted director, an actor’s performance, and exacting style.’ Of her unique appeal as an actress, the designer notes: ‘Deneuve appears to most quintessentially personify an idea of freedom, both in her remarkably personal craft as well as in the discreet elegance of her physical presence.’
‘Palazzo Grassi is delighted to take part in Saint Laurent’s tribute to Catherine Deneuve,’ adds Bruno Racine, the museum and cultural hub’s director. ‘Her work has marked the evolution of French and European cinema, while with her talent and grace, she gave life to some of the most indelible characters in film history, thus becoming a role model for the generations that have followed her.’
INFORMATION
Admission to ‘Une Nuit avec Deneuve’ is free. Tickets can be booked on Palazzo Grassi’s website.
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