On February 14th, the new, star-studded historical series “The New Look” will be released on the Apple TV streaming service. It tells the story of haute couture in Paris during the Nazi occupation and in the years that followed. The star designers Christian Dior (Ben Mendelsohn, 54) and Coco Chanel (Juliette Binoche, 59) are equally at the center of the plot. “The New Look” is a must for all viewers interested in fashion.
Paris during the Second World War: Coco Chanel (Binoche) is the dominant fashion designer of the era, but also collaborates with the National Socialists who have established themselves in the city on the Seine. Her later rival, the extremely talented Christian Dior (Mendelsohn), is not yet a big star. The sensitive creative mind suffers under the Nazi occupation and is particularly afraid for the well-being of his younger sister Catherine (Maisie Williams, 26), who takes on dangerous missions for the French Resistance in the fight against the Nazis.
Amid the suffering and privations of the World War, Dior continued to create breathtaking designs that would ultimately make him the new star in the Parisian fashion sky.
The new, high-quality series from Apple TV features a veritable star ensemble. In addition to Oscar winner Juliette Binoche, the famous character actor Ben Mendelsohn and “Game of Thrones” star Maisie Williams, screen legends Glenn Close (76) and John Malkovich (70) also appear in front of the camera. Emily Mortimer (“Shutter Island”, 52) and Claes Bang (“Dracula”, 56) can be seen in other roles.
Responsible behind the scenes for “The New Look” is series creator Todd A. Kessler (52), who already worked with lead actor Mendelsohn on the Netflix series “Bloodline” and was once the author of the legendary mafia series “The Sopranos”. celebrated success in Hollywood.
When producing “The New Look,” the streaming service Apple TV clearly spared neither expense nor effort. The historical series was created exclusively at original locations in Paris. Numerous famous designs by Christian Dior can also be admired in the series. The Dior company opened its archives to the series makers and also directly helped to recreate early designs by its founder, who died in 1957.
Despite all the reveling in the history of haute couture in Paris – the historical figures and legendary fashion greats Cristóbal Balenciaga (Nuno Lopes, 45), Pierre Balmain (Thomas Poitevin, 44) and Pierre Cardin (Eliott Margueron) can also be seen in supporting roles – is turning “The New Look” is primarily about the human fate of the time.
The legendary French cinema icon Binoche paints an extremely multi-layered, complex portrait of the Nazi collaborator Coco Chanel, while Mendelsohn’s Christian Dior, even in the darkest hours of the occupation, does not lose faith in Paris and the entire planet after liberation with his designs To be able to give back courage and esprit.
