Gucci and Gus Van Sant Collaborate on Seven-Film Series

Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele has commissioned a seven-episode film series titled "Ouverture Of Something That Never Ended" from director Gus Van Sant. The project, released in November 2020, presents the Fall/Winter 2020 collection through cinematic storytelling rather than a traditional runway show. Set against a dreamlike Rome, the series follows protagonist Silvia Calderoni, a key figure in Italian contemporary theater and queer activist, through intimate daily rituals and encounters. The narrative incorporates monologues and dialogues on themes of gender revolution and anti-racism, featuring appearances by Paul B. Preciado, Achille Bonito Oliva, Harry Styles, Florence Welch, Billie Eilish, and Arlo Parks. The series is part of the broader "GucciFest" initiative, which also includes a showcase of emerging designers and artists. Critics have debated the work's artistic merit, with some praising its visionary fusion of fashion, film, and philosophy, while others argue that the commercial imperatives of the luxury brand undermine the radical potential of the political and queer discourses it invokes. The project reflects Michele's ongoing effort to transform Gucci into a platform for total art, drawing on influences from body art, cyberfeminism, and the theatricality of Fellini.