“Who is Sabato De Sarno? A Gucci Story” The Fashion Documentary to Watch
This publication is also available in: 
Français 
English (UK) 
Deutsch 
Italiano 
Español
Here’s a question that has been on our minds for the past few months: Who is Sabato De Sarno? As we all dream of filling our wardrobes with his red leather pieces and other platform loafers, the new Creative Director of Gucci remains quite enigmatic. Our curiosity was piqued when the Italian house announced the release of an exclusive documentary about its new recruit. Streaming on the MUBI platform, “Who is Sabato De Sarno? A Gucci Story,” takes us behind the scenes of his first show Ancora and introduces us to the new prodigy. Let’s analyze a must-see fashion documentary!
Why watch “Who is Sabato De Sarno? A Gucci Story”?
This is a documentary we all secretly dreamed of. “Who is Sabato De Sarno? A Gucci Story” finally lifts the veil on the new prodigy of the Gucci house, as talented as he is mysterious. MUBI has just revealed a 20-minute format, as dynamic as its protagonist. And after watching it, all we want is a new episode with every show!
Explore the universe of different creators
The dive into the universe is immediate. Directed by Henry & Rel and accompanied by the voice of Paul Mescal, actor and house ambassador, the documentary captivates with its writing, stolen images, collage aesthetics, dynamic editing, and soundtrack… In short, everything.
In summary, “Who is Sabato De Sarno? A Gucci Story” is a successful marriage of two creative visions. On one hand, that of the new Creative Director of the Italian house. And on the other, that of a duo of directors who perfectly balance aesthetics and storytelling, quirky tones, and emotions. An artistic vision that complements Sabato De Sarno’s own and presents him in a unique and addictive way.
The creative duo, composed of Henry Joost and Ariel (Rel) Schulman, founded their production company, Supermarket, in NYC in 2007. Since then, they have been involved in notable advertisements, including Dear Sophie for Google Chrome. Alongside content for Vogue, they have also worked on fictions and documentaries aired on Paramount + or Netflix.
A Gucci Story: a dive into the excitement of a fashion show
“Who is Sabato De Sarno? A Gucci Story” captivates with its angle. Much like the Netflix documentary “7 Days,” which followed the creation of a Chanel fashion show released in 2018, the MUBI documentary also aims to reveal the behind-the-scenes of a Gucci show. But not just any show.
Indeed, the documentary chose to present the new Creative Director by infiltrating the preparation for his first show for the Italian house : Ancora. And all we can say is that it is far from easy.
From the creation of the collection, composing the looks, casting, planning the show, creating the playlist, communication, and other weather-related obstacles… We follow all the excitement of the setup for this first Gucci chapter. But that’s not all.
We also discover Sabato De Sarno’s first steps at the Milan headquarters of Gucci and his exploration of his new office. We witness a flood of emotions, more or less controlled amidst this fast-paced life, but experienced with a strange serenity by the main character!
The birth of a collection inspired by two eras
The documentary “Who is Sabato De Sarno? A Gucci Story” invites us to revisit the genesis of the collection presented at the Gucci Ancora show. Between classics, reinterpretations, and new pieces, the collection consists of items nourished by one idea: to follow a red thread.
Through the discovery of the archives of the Italian house, initial sketches, prototypes, and accessorizing… We follow the evolution of Sabato De Sarno’s creative thinking, his way of creating and collaborating.
The collection is a bridge between two eras, embodying a spirit of continuity, reflected in its “Ancora” philosophy. This extends even to the soundtrack of the show, which features a remixed 70s Italian hit by Mark Ronson, known for I’m Just Ken from the Barbie film.
“Who is Sabato De Sarno? A Gucci story” an ode to family
Although the documentary “Who is Sabato De Sarno? A Gucci Story” highlights the creation of the show, it gradually unveils the man behind the creation. We learn about the journey of a passionate individual, determined and dedicated to training in the greatest houses to understand techniques, fabrics, and crafts… A rigorous job, done in the shadows, which allowed him to climb the ranks to this moment of grace: his appointment as Creative Director at Gucci, succeeding Alessandro Michele.
We discover a creative, unable to stay still, but who seems to practice a sort of zen calm, in contrast to his pace. The documentary reveals someone restrained in the face of the novelty of press photo sessions. And, a dancer at heart once midnight strikes or an aspiring model in his spare time. Sabato De Sarno embodies passion, hard work, joy of living, but also family.
The documentary emphasizes the importance of his entourage. Whether it’s his parents, partner, friends, colleagues, and even (especially) his dog, his family, both blood and chosen, seems to be his foundation, his driving force. With 90 seats reserved for his loved ones in the front rows of his Gucci Ancora show, Sabato De Sarno highlighted their significance. They come, as he says, for him and not for all the Gucci excitement.
A way to stay grounded for this rather discreet creator, but above all passionate!
A documentary to watch on MUBI right now!
Photos: Pinterest
