An inspirational portrait of a farmer’s son who rises from humble beginnings to build a luxury fashion empire. Brunello: The Gracious Visionary traces the pivotal moments that shaped Brunello Cucinelli's life journey, exploring his commitment to craftsmanship, ethical values, and humanistic philosophy rooted in meaningful relationships and a strong sense of community. Directed by Academy Award winner Giuseppe Tornatore and featuring a score by Academy Award winner Nicola Piovani (Life Is Beautiful), the film blends documentary and fiction to offer an intimate look at the renowned Italian entrepreneur known as the 'king of cashmere.'
The Garden Cinema View:
In Brunello: The Gracious Visionary Giuseppe Tornatore (Cinema Paradiso, Malèna) crafts an archetypal rags-to-riches, self-made-man biopic. Blending talking heads and docufiction, the film traces Brunello Cucinelli's journey from wayward professional card player in rural Umbria to the ‘king of cashmere,’ a global fashion titan with an obsession for craftsmanship and social giving.
The combination of Cucinelli's charismatic and gregarious personality with Tornatore's sleek production values make for an gripping watch. Maybe a tad too sleek, though. Although Cucinelli's vision of ‘humanistic capitalism’ is inspiring, the film veers often into hagiography, which left us uneasy. Part of us wanted more of the darker side, a little more journalism. Knowing the film was largely self-financed and produced by Cucinelli himself only compounds that discomfort.
