Byredo launches its new scent, Mixed Emotions, alongside Fenn O'Meally's poetic short film Tall Are the Roots, which explores hope and strength in the modern era. Below, the director curates a list of classic films that have inspired her cinematic style.
In The Mood For Love (2000)
Frequently appearing in internet compilations that list the greatest movies ever made, In the Mood for Love is a romantic drama written and directed by Wong Kar-wai. The film follows the story of two neighbors who realize their respective partners are cheating on them.
The Color Purple (1985)
Based on a novel by Alice Walker, The Color Purple is Steven Spielberg’s eighth project as a director. The film follows the life of Celie, played by Whoopi Goldberg, who is 14 years old and pregnant with her father's child. The rest of the film follows the next 30 years of her tough life. This coming-of-age drama was not only a box office success made on a small budget but was also nominated for eleven Academy Awards.
Daughters of the Dust (1991)
Daughters of the Dust is a film written and directed by Julie Dash. It tells the story of a family of African-Americans who have lived for many years on the South Carolina island of St Helena. The director, Julie Dash, became the first black female filmmaker to have a full-length general theatrical release in the US.
La Haine (1995)
La Haine is a 1995 French black-and-white drama written, co-edited, and directed by Mathieu Kassovitz. It follows 24 hours in the life of three friends in a poor district in Paris. Shown at the Cannes Film Festival, Kassovitz was awarded the Best Director prize. The film was a box office hit and was the 14th highest-grossing film of the year. Alain Juppé, who was Prime Minister of France at the time, commissioned a special screening of the film for the cabinet and described it as “a beautiful work of cinematographic art that can make us more aware of certain realities”.
Burning (2018)
Co-written, produced and directed by Lee Chang-dong Burning, Buring is a 2018 South Korean psychological thriller mystery drama. It is a haunting film based on a strange encounter that chnages the life of a young man forever. The film premiered at Cannes Film Festival in 2018 where it received the FIPRESCI International Critics’ Prize.
I Am Love (2009)
A film which took over 11 years to develop, I Am Love stars Tilda Swinton and was directed by Luca Guadagnino. Swinton's character, Emma, embarks on a passionate love affair with one of her son's friends. When the rest of the family discovers the affair, the fallout effects everyone. This 2009 Italian romantic drama premiered at Venice Film Festival and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design.
Romeo and Juliet (1996)
Director Baz Luhrmann reinterprets Shakespeare's classic tale of love and tragedy for the modern era. The Montagues and Capulets have moved their ongoing feud to Verona Beach, where they battle with guns and not swords. Retaining the play's original sixteenth-century dialogue, Romeo and Juliet is a cinematic masterpiece that also catapulted Leonardo DiCaprio into Hollywood fame.
Y Tu Mamá También (2001)
Y Tu Mamá También is a Mexican drama directed by directed by Alfonso Cuaron who wanted to reimagine the American road film genre. He explores Mexico’s geographical, cultural, and political landscape using drama, sex, and comedy. The film follows the journey of two teenage boys and an attractive older woman who embark on a trip where they learn a few things about life and relationships.
Moonlight (2016)
Based on the unpublished semi-autobiographical play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McCraney, Moonlight was directed by Barry Jenkins. Cited as one of the best films of the 21st century, Moonlight won an Academy Award for Best Picture, with Mahershala Ali winning Best Supporting Actor, and Jenkins and McCraney winning Best Adapted Screenplay. Moonlight was one of the first films with an all-black cast that spoke to the LGBTQ+ community.