165. Antonio Lopez 1970 - Sex, Fashion & Disco; movie review

ANTONIO LOPEZ 1970 - SEX, FASHION & DISCO
Cert 15
95 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong sex references, nudity, drug references

The world of fashion and art is bursting with talented people who are decadent and tend to fall out with each other.
Or so it would seem from the myriad documentaries about its personalities.
For many years I have enjoyed peering into an arena which seems exciting to the point of hedonism.
The common thread is that it is festooned with divas - many of whom became victim to the tragic Aids epidemic of the 80s and early 90s.
Antonio Lopez was one of them. A very handsome man who favoured males sexually but also bedded some of the world's most beautiful women.
He wasn't alone in his promiscuity. James Crump's film includes contributions from those who shared in  the fun.
And this is where stories overlap. Among the more colourful anecdotes are those from the late photographer Bill Cunningham, who was the subject of his own documentary in 2012, and model and fashion editor Grace Coddington who was a key player in The September Issue.
They tell how Lopez was an acolyte of Karl Lagerfeld as the designer was making his name.
Lopez was an illustrator of high talent who also had a keen eye for fashion and was, therefore, much sought after by both editors and designers.
His work really did push boundaries and much of it is shown during this documentary which chronicles his life and loves.
But as it glides triumphantly through New York and Paris of the 60s and 70s, the black cloud of the 80s becomes more and more inevitable.
It was no surprise when interviewees' joy turned to tears at the recollection of the deaths of Lopez and lovers.
Perhaps because they have respect for the dead, there is literally not a bad word said about him.
It gave me an unrealistic impression of the man and, therefore, I felt that something was missing from this appraisal which is more of a eulogy than a biopic.

Reasons to watch: Another insight into the hedonistic world of 60s/70s fashion
Reasons to avoid: It is a eulogy rather than a biopic

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit:  None
Nudity: Yes
Overall rating: 6.5/10

Director quote - James Crump: "“We were lucky to get an interview with Bill Cunningham right before he died. He was so generous and forthcoming, yet frank and unafraid to say some critical things about where we are today. Bill explains that as Antonio and Juan are rising to the top, it wasn’t about money – it was about creativity."

The big question - How many stories of the 70s art scene are there left to tell?

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