Cleverly shot and brimming with intrigue, The First Monday In May is a brilliant behind the scenes look into one of New York City’s most exclusive social events of the year. Used to kick off the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute annual fashion exhibit, the red carpet gala hosts celebrities, entertainers, artists, designers, and even politicians from around the world to not only spend a night celebrating fashion, but to also help raise much needed funds for the institute. Each year a different theme is chosen, and for 2015 China: Through The Looking Glass was not only the chosen theme, but the particular gala for this documentary. Utilizing the Met’s diverse collection of Chinese artifacts and costumes plus borrowing other fashion collections from various designers inspired by Chinese culture, curator Andrew Bolton and chair Anna Wintour, along with an army of staff and event coordinators, created an evening of visual fantasy that not only highlights the beauty of Chinese fashion and its historical significance, but also opens new doors of understanding of what the culture is, rather than what it is perceived to be.
The film itself showcases all the incredible planning efforts of the staff, including numerous meetings with not only those directly involved with the event, but with high level members of the Chinese press and government officials to ensure the event treats the artifacts and historical clothing, some of which are on loan from the government itself, with as much respect and courtesy as possible. There are also interviews with fashion icons Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano and red carpet interviews with celebrities from all over the entertainment industry. Andrew Rossi did an impeccable job and I would certainly recommend The First Monday In May to anyone that has any love for fashion, art, history, or even celebrities themselves.
The First Monday In May
Magnolia Pictures
Relativity Studios
Planted Projects
An Andrew Rossi Film