Perfume (2001 film)

Perfume is a 2001 American film directed by Michael Rymer, and featuring an ensemble cast, starring Paul Sorvino, Leslie Mann, Jeff Goldblum, Mariel Hemingway, Rita Wilson, Jared Harris, Joanne Baron and Michelle Williams. All dialogue was improvised by the actors. The film premiered at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival.

Plot
A week prior to a New York Fashion Week, various models, photographers, agents, reporters, publicists and designers, involved in the fashion industry, find themselves embroiled in conflicts.

Anthony is a fashion photographer who has to reinvent himself after his signature heroin chic style has become overused and obvious. Janice Crawford, powerful chief editor of A Magazine, offers Anthony the chance to prove himself with a cover shot. In the meantime, Janice's estranged daughter Halley resurfaces unexpectedly.

Camille is an up-and-coming fashion designer who's leaving the small atelier owned by Roberta Colaredo to join the large fashion house Fantasia, for which her current lover, Jamie, works as a talent scout. When Camille takes a deal, Roberta finds her atelier is set back.

Lorenzo Mancini is a famous Italian fashion designer who learns that he's dying of cancer, but keeps the news from his former wife Irene and his boyfriend Guido while also trying to prevent his son Mario from changing their family business into a new line that panders to hip hop culture. Lorenzo meets with some hip hop artists who help open his mind to Mario's idea to cater to new clientele. Guido contacts Lorenzo's Irene who tells their son and daughter about the cancer diagnosis, so they are able to say goodbye.

Production
The film was shot in 20 days in New York. All actors were required to improvise their own dialogue based on a detailed outline by Michael Rymer and L.M. Kit Carson.

Jeff Goldblum served as an executive producer.

Reception
Todd McCarthy of Variety wrote, "Another attempt to nail the fashion industry, Perfume is more coherent and serious-minded than Robert Altman's mess Ready to Wear, but remains a less alluring creation." McCarthy noted the characters felt thinly developed and lamented how the film’s "lack of interest in exposition, basic information about the relationships of many of the characters — whom they work for and why they’re behaving the way they are — remains vague for a considerable time." Buzz McClain of AllMovie was more critical, writing, "In the end, you learn nothing about the fashion industry, you glean no insight into the characters, and you feel as if you've watched an acting class of self-conscious performers. If anything, Perfume only serves to point out how good Altman is."

Accolades
Independent Spirit Awards
 * Nominated—Producers Award: Nadia Leonelli