The Powder Room is the first in a series of short films, The Miu Miu Women’s Tales, directed by distinctive female filmmakers with different intellectual backgrounds, which explore the femininity by the cinema.
Zoe Cassavetes is the filmmaker of The Powder Room, an enchanting and dramatic short film set in London’s Claridges hotel. As its name suggests, the piece takes us into an ultra-feminine environment where gestures between women are traded in a ritual of opulent beauty.
In this world, Cassavetes uses the romantic codes of the powder room to mirror the beauty and luxury of the Miu Miu universe. “I love the idea of a powder room, the ritual which takes place within them is very important for women,” explains Cassavetes. “There’s something special about preparing yourself, a moment before the action takes place.
I love the sense of intimacy. It’s a place away from men, where you can check out other women, and re-glamorize yourself ready to face the world again.” Cassavetes brings her eye for capturing the essence of femininity to the film, which layers multiple close ups of subtle glances and abstract details to create a mysterious narrative mosaic.
“The story is about women and their private moments”, says Cassavetes, “so it’s allowed to be free and dreamy… the dreamy part was the most fun. And the glamour.” Audrey Marnay stars as a captivating femme fatale who plays provocatively within the private and reflective environment of the powder room.
When other glamorous girls played by models Caroline de Maigret, Line Gost and Sophie Vlaming enter, the powerful unspoken codes of the powder room are unfold within a sensual dream-like tale.