Quick Read
- Angelina Jolie stars in ‘Couture,’ a film exploring resilience and creativity, premiering at TIFF 2025.
- The film, directed by Alice Winocour, intertwines the lives of three women in the high-pressure fashion world.
- Jolie draws on personal experiences, including her mother’s battle with cancer, to portray her character, Maxine.
- During the TIFF Q&A, Jolie shared emotional reflections on grief and resilience, resonating deeply with the audience.
- Critics praise the film’s nuanced storytelling and Jolie’s powerful performance.
Angelina Jolie has once again captivated audiences with her poignant and powerful performance in the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025 premiere of Alice Winocour’s latest arthouse drama, Couture. The film, which delves into themes of resilience, identity, and creativity, has already garnered critical acclaim for its nuanced storytelling and stellar cast. Jolie stars as Maxine Walker, a filmmaker battling cancer while directing a short vampire film during Paris Fashion Week. With its intricate narrative and emotional depth, Couture solidifies Jolie’s reputation as one of Hollywood’s most versatile and compelling actors.
Jolie’s Deeply Personal Connection to ‘Couture’
During a press conference at TIFF on September 7, 2025, Jolie shared the personal resonance she felt with the film’s subject matter. Reflecting on her own family history, Jolie spoke about the impact of losing her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, to ovarian and breast cancer in 2007. This loss, coupled with her own preventive double mastectomy in 2013 after discovering she carried the BRCA1 gene, informed her portrayal of Maxine. “What I really love is that there’s often films that deal with cancer that become about the cancer,” Jolie explained. “But this story is about so much more—Maxine is a mother, an artist, and a woman navigating life while facing profound challenges.”
Jolie also revealed that she wore one of her late mother’s necklaces during the filming of Couture, a gesture that helped her channel vulnerability and authenticity in her performance. In an interview with Just Jared, she described the experience as “healing,” adding, “The heaviest films tend to have the most loving sets. There’s something comforting about having real conversations and sharing real feelings with a community.”
A Complex Narrative Woven with Diverse Perspectives
Directed by acclaimed French filmmaker Alice Winocour, Couture intertwines the lives of three creative women: Maxine, played by Jolie; Ada, a young South Sudanese model portrayed by Anyier Anei; and Angèle, a writer and makeup artist brought to life by Ella Rumpf. The film explores their struggles and triumphs within the high-pressure world of fashion, art, and personal identity.
The narrative structure of Couture is intentionally fragmented, shifting between the perspectives of its three protagonists. As noted by Screen Daily, this approach creates a dreamlike mosaic that mirrors the complexities of their inner lives. Winocour’s direction emphasizes the often invisible pressures faced by women, from societal expectations to personal grief, while also celebrating their resilience and creativity. The film’s climactic fashion show sequence, described as a “stormy, windswept gothic spectacle,” underscores its central themes of liberation and self-expression.
Emotional Moments at TIFF Premiere
Jolie’s connection to the film was evident during the post-screening Q&A session at TIFF. When an audience member, who had recently lost a loved one to cancer, asked for advice on coping with grief, Jolie became visibly emotional. “I’m very sorry for your loss,” she said, pausing to collect herself. She then shared a poignant memory of her mother, who once expressed frustration that her illness seemed to overshadow the rest of her life. “If you know someone who’s going through something, ask them about everything else in their life as well,” Jolie advised. “They’re a whole person, and they’re still living.”
The moment resonated deeply with the audience, many of whom applauded Jolie’s vulnerability and candor. According to Hindustan Times, Jolie’s emotional response highlighted the film’s broader message about finding strength and meaning in the face of adversity.
Critical Acclaim and Broader Implications
Couture has received widespread praise for its artistic vision and compelling performances. Critics have noted Jolie’s ability to bring depth and nuance to Maxine, a character whose struggles reflect broader societal issues, including the ways women’s bodies and lives are scrutinized and measured. Winocour’s direction, coupled with André Chemetoff’s evocative cinematography and Anna von Hausswolff’s haunting score, creates a rich and immersive cinematic experience.
The film also marks an important milestone for Winocour, whose previous works, such as Proxima and Paris, Memories, similarly explored themes of resilience and identity. As noted by Screen Daily, Couture has the potential to reach a wider arthouse audience, thanks in part to Jolie’s star power and the film’s universal themes.
As Couture continues its festival circuit, including a stop at the San Sebastian Film Festival, it is poised to spark conversations about the intersection of art, identity, and resilience. For Jolie, the film represents not only a career milestone but also a deeply personal journey, one that resonates with audiences worldwide.
With its thoughtful narrative and powerful performances, ‘Couture’ is a testament to the enduring strength of women and the transformative power of art.