137. Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist; movie review

WESTWOOD: PUNK, ICON, ACTIVIST
CERT 15
83 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong language

The problem with biopics is that the director can become too close to their subject and, therefore, exclude the warts-and-all interesting bits.
In this case, Lorna Tucker ends up pleasing nobody. I felt that she had skirted over key phases of Vivienne Westwood's life while the fashion designer is angry because she believes her environmental activism has been undercooked.
She is even disapproving of the film on air, claiming that most of the episodes in her life are 'boring' and refusing to go into detail about them.
She sneers at talk of the Sex Pistols, so,  despite the title, 'Punk, Icon, Activist', there is only superficial coverage of her involvement with the anarchic 70s music scene.
Even her tumultuous relationship with Malcolm McLaren doesn't receive the in-depth probing it warrants because she is dismissive of it.
Westwood only became recognised among the fashion royalty during the past three decades. Before than, she was an edgy accompaniment to those who were winding up their elders such as Johnny Rotten.
It seems, ironic, therefore, to discover that she is nearly as old as my mum and dad and equally forgetful but far more irascible.
If Westwood has mellowed over the years, the audience would not know it from Tucker's film, except during the scenes which she shares with her husband Andreas Kronthaler.
Both of her sons, Joe and Ben, contribute to this documentary and speak of their mother articulately and fondly but are not seen on screen with her.
Indeed, the audience is left to suspect that Westwood would see sentimentality as weakness.
Of course, there are interesting parts - not least of how Westwood and Kronthaler collaborate on her collections.
And she is something of a marvel - cycling through London and leading green campaigns across the world, despite her age.
But I was rather bewildered at her lack of business nous and even her grasp about the strategies of her successful worldwide independent fashion house.
Mrs W and I left Showcase Cinema in Nottingham thinking that we had only seen what Westwood had wanted us to see.
And if Tucker did have independence in making her picture, she must be such a fan that she didn't want to look for dirt under the tailor's fingernails.

Reasons to watch: Westwood is entirely deserving of a biopic
Reasons to avoid: Doesn't get under her skin

Laughs: Two
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: Yes
Overall rating: 5.5/10

Director's statement - Lorna Tucker: "When I first suggested making a film about Vivienne’s life, she was like, “Ugh, no.” She is not nostalgic; she only cares about the future and the present. She just wants to get her activism across. But eventually she agreed: “OK, come in and film, but don’t get in the way.”

The big question - Is Vivienne Westwood as original as she thinks she is?

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