The September Issue

The September Issue is a documentary directed by R. J. Cutler which takes us behind the scenes into the fascinating world of American Vogue magazine and it's editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour as she and her team put together their biggest magazine to date, the September 2007 edition.
Most of you would have seen The Devil Wears Prada, Meryl Streep's character Miranda Priestly is based on Anna Wintour. Through that movie Wintour's persona was portrayed as a cold, hard-nosed bitch with hardly a nice word for anyone. As the camera takes us through Anna's life during such a stressful time those adjectives are quickly replaced with words like focused, decisive and a bloody hard worker.
Surrounded by photographers, designers, creative directors, assistants, models; the average day at the Vogue office is a hectic one. The September issue of Vogue in 2007 was 840 pages, each paged carefully examined and critiqued by Wintour and her meticulous eye. Cutler brilliantly captures the passion and dedication Anna has for what the world has declared as the fashion bible. Candid interviews with the likes of Oscar De la Renta, Jean Paul Gaultier, frankly anyone who's anyone in the fashion world and brief moments of Wintour at home with her daughter Bee juxtapose her worker and mother personalities. Vogue editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley quips that Anna is not one for emotion but there's something in her eyes at times that say otherwise, no matter how hard she tries to hide it.
Cutler also gives us exclusive access to the cover shoot with Sienna Miller and the wig that wouldn't work, and on location at Versailles with model Raquel Zimmermann and the case of the missing strawberry pie.
I'm not personally one for labels, I don't think I've ever bought a copy of Vogue in my life but this documentary has raised my level of respect for any editor of any magazine exponentially. The long hours at work that equal time away from families never make themselves apparent on the glossy pages of magazines, and that's probably a good thing.
The September Issue is available on DVD - the deleted scenes of over an hour of footage gives us that extra insight into the multi billion dollar fashion industry.
Things I learnt: don't wear high heels that look like golf balls, Wintour likes wearing a lot of fur, blue and green can be seen if that's what the lady bloody well wants.
Eight out of ten.