Gospel According to André (The)

André Leon Talley is an imposing and polarising character. You either love him or loathe him! It really is that simple.

Well...if ever a film was made that tectonically shifted opinion...this is it! We love you [now], André!

From the opening scene, the mood is set...André, sitting on his porch, moaning at the gardener...hey, you don't get to where André got by not being a perfectionist. But, alas, perfectionists - to the hoi polloi - are usually regarded as pedantic and pernickety pains-in-the-butt. Sounds like: Not a film for the hoi polloi!

Therein lies the rub...or not, as is the case here. For Kate Novack has been rather clever, understanding André's polarity...get him at his grumpy worst...thereon in, the only way is up.

From the humblest of beginnings, André clawed his way up the Haute Couture ladder, luck played a part, intelligence was a good support, hard graft took the lead...all awhile he accummulated an enviable and incomparable encyclopaedic knowledge of the great fashion houses and the obvious offshoots...and, a personality and persona to match.

The film features many a famous face bestowing verbal accolades upon this 'giant' of a man. But, as his story unfolds, [mainly] through his anecdotes, the hoi polloi start to see the man beneath the extravagance...all that hard work and that [ultimate] sacrifice he made...

"Listen, I have no love life. I've never had a love life. I've never fallen in love, experienced love."

Wow...monumentally moving. Searingly truthful. Admiration, respect runneth over.

It's too easy to say that André is one-in-a-million. Though true, it's just not accurate enough...André is - truly - unique. There will only ever be one André Leon Talley. A treasure.

Thank you for sharing.

Trailer...