Documentary 'McQueen' Explores the Turbulent Life of Alexander McQueen

The documentary 'McQueen,' directed by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York and opened the fifth edition of the Fashion Film Festival Milano. The film delves into the life and career of Lee Alexander McQueen, the British fashion designer known for his provocative and darkly romantic collections. It features intimate testimonies from family, friends, and close collaborators, deliberately avoiding celebrity figures like Lady Gaga or Rihanna. The documentary is structured in five chapters named after his most iconic runway shows, including 'Jack the Ripper Stalks his Victims' and 'Highland Rape,' the latter which drew accusations of misogyny. McQueen began his career on Savile Row, apprenticed at the insistence of his mother, and later worked for Romeo Gigli. He took the helm at Givenchy at age 27, alongside Tom Ford at Gucci and John Galliano at Christian Dior. The film explores his troubled personal history, including abuse by his brother-in-law, and his associations with the Taboo club and Leigh Bowery. McQueen died by suicide in 2010, on the eve of his mother's funeral. The documentary asserts that 'No one discovered Alexander McQueen. Alexander McQueen discovered himself.'