Halston
Halston, the documentary from Frédéric Tcheng about the career of fashion designer Roy Halston Frowick, begins and ends exactly as you'd expect—first, with the former milliner becoming a sensation in the fashion world, and then, his hubris and the evils of commerce upending his reign. But the way this tale is recounted is where the film gets interesting: Intercut among the talking-head interviews of Halston's favorite models, former business associates, and longtime friend Liza Minnelli, and along with some fabulous vintage footage of his many TV appearances, are scenes featuring former Rookie editor Tavi Gevinson playing an unnamed character who's attempting to take stock of Halston’s precipitous rise and Icarus-like plummet as she marvels at the beauty of his flowing frocks. Those moments make little sense, but they both provide a break from the monotony of the typical documentary arc and make a case for the timelessness of Halston’s couture.
by Robert Ham