Valentino: The Last Emperor (2008)

A rare look at couture as both an art and a business at the moment the business took over. Shot in 2007, it follows Valentino Garavani from the preparation of his 45th-anniversary collection to a lavish tribute to his career, while new corporate owners circle and rumors of his retirement spread. The atelier scenes show gowns sewn by hand to exacting standards, and the film is just as much a portrait of Giancarlo Giammetti, his partner in life and in business. For anyone curious why the old couture houses changed hands, this is the clearest answer on film.