Sometimes, a short film or commercial can be a low-stakes opportunity to take risks. Many filmmakers use music videos or commercial shorts to either try out certain techniques or often use it as an opportunity to work with a new actor they’ve never collaborated with before. And sometimes, a paycheck is good too. Whatever the case may be, Jim Jarmusch (“Dead Man,” “Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai“) has returned to direct the new short film/commercial for Yves Saint Laurent to promote the label’s Women’s Summer ‘21 collection.
Titled “French Water,” the short is surreal, dryly comedic, obviously highlighting some chic couture and stars like Charlotte Gainsbourg, Indya Moore, Julianne Moore, Chloë Sevigny, and Tik Tok star Leo Reilly (a.k.a. LoveLeo). French Water” is the fashion line by Belgian fashion designer Anthony Vaccarello. Noveller did the score, and The Brian Jonestown Massacre made additional music in the short. Late last year, the fashion house released a film showcasing its new collection with Gasper Noé, titled “Summer of ’21.”
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Jarmusch’s last feature was the sardonic zombie comedy, “The Dead Don’t Die” (2019), and that also featured Sevigny, who worked with the filmmaker first on “Broken Flowers” in 2005. The rest of the actors are new to Jarmusch’s troupe, but who knows, the director likes repeat business with collaborators, so perhaps they could turn up down the road.
The water in the short? “It’s French,” Reilly, who plays the waiter, notes. Of course, it is, darling. The short also begs the question, what’s next for Jarmusch? That’s unknown, but the filmmaker is constantly cooking something up, so it would not surprise if reports surface sometime this year on what’s cookin’. Watch the short below.