NZIFF: Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams

There are shoemakers, and then there's Salvatore Ferragamo—whose glittering life is explored in this affectionate, glam-packed documentary film by award-winning Italian director Luca Guadagnino.

Italian glamour and the pursuit of the American dream are key touchpoints underpinning the life of one of the most revered shoemakers of our times.

Salvatore Ferragamo's unrelenting passion stems from a youth spent in Bonito, Italy, first creating shoes for his sisters’ holy communion. Upon arriving to California in 1915, it didn't take long for him to earn the trust of such Hollywood titans as Cecil B. DeMille, Joan Crawford, and Rudolph Valentino. His attention to detail marked him as a design genius who was entrusted with famous feet the world over, as he elucidates "a good foot—its muscles firm, its arch strong—is a delight to touch. A masterpiece of divine workmanship. My desire to work with feet was unrelenting."

Director Luca Guadagnino's (Call Me By Your Name [NZIFF 2017]; I Am Love [NZIFF 2009]) unapologetic eye for beauty permeates this insightful documentary, bringing to life insightful interviews with Martin Scorsese, Suzy Menkes, Manolo Blahnik and Grace Coddington.