“Salvatore, Shoemaker of Dreams” is set to screen at the Venice Film Festival this September.
Salvatore Ferragamo’s style is something that you might describe as timeless.
It’s been worn by some of the biggest names in Hollywood: Greta Garbo, Audrey Hepburn, Judy Garland, and Marilyn Monroe. And that’s not even counting the celebrities who’ve donned their menswear in more recent years: Ryan Reynolds’ suit for the opening of Deadpool, Brad Pitt’s tan leather-and-suede jacket, Zac Efron’s tailored bomber. These aren’t even very current examples, but you can look them up and see that they won’t be out of place if you wear them now.
And while it’s become a global house across the years—with bags,accessory lines, and clothes—all of it began with the shoes.
“That has been my life’s work: striving to learn to make shoes that always fit and the refusal to put my name to any that do not fit. Therefore please look behind the story of the small, barefoot, unlettered boy who became a famous shoemaker, and seek the pleasure you will obtain from walking well.”
This was what Salvatore wrote on the preface of his autobiography, and now we get to see the story of that unfold in a documentary called Salvatore, Shoemaker of Dreams. Directed by Luca Guadagnino—the man behind the critically acclaimed romantic drama Call Me By Your Name—the film takes a look at the past of the storied brand, illustrating the life of Salvatore Ferragamo by sifting through archival recordings.
Photo: Salvatore Ferragamo
Guadagnino apparently reached out to the Ferragamo family after reading Salvatore’s autobiography and being inspired by it. The house then opened its archives for him to go through, including radio interviews, family anecdotes, and other relevant information. It took three years to finish the work, but alongside Fondazione Salvatore Ferragamo, Museo Salvatore Ferragamo, and screenwriter Dana Thomas, the film is finally done. Salvatore, Shoemaker of Dreams will be screened out of competition at this year’s Venice Film Festival, which will run from from Sept 2-12.
“We were overjoyed to learn that the film about my father’s life would be presented at the Venice Film Festival,” says Ferruccio Ferragamo. “It is an honour for me and my entire family that a director of Luca Guadagnino’s calibre would take an interest in our family history, adapting it for the big screen.”
It would be interesting to see how Guadagnino presents the Ferragamo story through his lens. And judging form the trailer below, it looks like it’s going to be quite a bit emotional.
