Milena Canonero: Legendary Costume Designer Shares Career Insights at Locarno
Four-time Oscar-winning costume designer Milena Canonero made a rare public appearance at the 78th Locarno Film Festival, offering unique insights into her celebrated collaborations with renowned directors like Wes Anderson, Stanley Kubrick, and Francis Ford Coppola.
Collaborations with Visionary Directors
Speaking at the festival where she received the Vision Award, Canonero recalled her first meeting with Wes Anderson at the Chateau Marmont to discuss “The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou.” She noted Anderson’s deep involvement in character aesthetics, describing their creative relationship as “a sort of symbiosis” – distinctly different from her experience with Stanley Kubrick, who was known for his reserved approach.
The Grand Budapest Hotel: Creating Iconic Looks
Canonero shared fascinating details about her work on “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” including the distinctive purple uniforms that became iconic to the film. She also revealed how Gustav Klimt’s art influenced her designs for Tilda Swinton’s character, Madame D.
Recent Work and Career Highlights
The costume designer discussed her recent work on Coppola’s “Megalopolis,” describing it as “a fable about a great country, like America, that is in the middle of chaos.” She also reflected on her collaboration with Sofia Coppola for “Marie Antoinette,” where she enjoyed “creative freedom to mix up the present and past with a pop attitude.”
Legacy and Recognition
- Four Academy Awards for Best Costume Design
- Three BAFTA Awards
- Three Costume Designers Guild Awards
- Golden Bear at Berlinale
Despite never attending formal costume design school, Canonero has become one of cinema’s most influential costume designers, creating visionary designs that have shaped collective imagination through innovative use of color, fabric, and cut.
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