“Marc by Sofia”, interview with the director Sofia Coppola and fashion designer Marc Jacobs

In a captivating debut at the Venice Film Festival, the documentary “Marc by Sofia” explores the enduring friendship and creative collaboration between fashion icon Marc Jacobs and renowned director Sofia Coppola. The film offers an intimate look into Jacobs’s artistic journey, his inspirations from cinema and fashion, and the profound bond shared between the two creative minds. We met with Sofia Coppola and Marc Jacobs, before the press conference at the 82 Venice International Film Festival

The power of friendship and artistic collaboration

Sofia Coppola, known for her cinematic introspection, decided to create a portrait of fashion designer Marc Jacobs, turning into an unexpected but thrilling challenge for Coppola, who saw it as a chance to revisit Jacobs’s extensive body of work and their long-standing friendship dating back to the early 1990s. “It was fun after all these years to revisit so many memories and his great body of work,” Coppola shared, about the personal connection that brought authenticity and depth to the documentary. For  Marc Jacobs, having Coppola involved made the process comfortable and natural. “Knowing Sofia was doing this made everything very easy,” he explained. Their friendship served as a foundation, allowing Jacobs to open up about his creative process and his inspirations without reservations—ultimately giving viewers a candid glimpse into his world.

Cinema and fashion: A mutual inspiration

A recurring theme in “Marc by Sofia” is the deep relationship between cinema, fashion, and identity. Marc Jacobs confirms on how films influence his work profoundly, revealing that movies have left a lasting impression on his creative vision. “Cinema is hugely influential,” he said. “Growing up watching movies shaped my artistic sensibilities and inspired my work forever.”Sofia Coppola agrees and both artists also discussed the close ties between fashion and film. Jacobs, a dedicated fashion enthusiast since childhood, expressed how fashion photography and movies share a shared language—visual storytelling that transcends time. “Characters and films stay in our minds; we speak the same language of storytelling,” he explained.

The ephemeral nature of fashion

Discussing the nature of fashion shows, Jacobs highlighted their fast-paced, fleeting essence. “Fashion is ethereal; it happens once and is gone,” he noted. This transient quality, he believes, makes fashion less precious and more dynamic, allowing creators to move quickly from one idea to the next.  Jacobs admits to a reflective side, often revisiting past work to learn from mistakes. “I look back at my work and see what I could have done differently,” he said, underlining his commitment towards continual growth.

Challenges and creative process

For Coppola, approaching the documentary without a script or plan was a challenge but also a liberating experience. “It was scary because I just wanted to capture all the things I love about Marc and his work,” she explained. Her goal was to create a true portrait that reflects their friendship and Jacobs’s artistic evolution, focusing on authenticity rather than a structured narrative.

 

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