There is a new movie trailer in town. Romance, mystery, intrigue, betrayal, adventure with a smattering of high-end fashion – The Tale of Thomas Burberry has all the right ingredients which could have helped it notch up a few Academy Awards. Unfortunately, the gripping "trailer" is a TV commercial.
The alleged £10 million cinematic ode to Burberry celebrates the fashion powerhouse's 160th anniversary in the business. The 215-second-long video is a fictionalised testament to the life and times of the brand’s founder, Thomas Burberry.
Directed by Academy Award winner Asif Kapadia, the glossy cinematic masterpiece stars British actor Domhnall Gleeson, of Star Wars and Black Mirror fame, as the brand’s founder, Thomas Burberry. Playing his love interest, and apparently the mother of his children, is actress Sienna Miller. The American Sniper star is Burberry’s fictionalised first love.
The Downton Abbey character Betty Dawson, played by Lily James, is based on adventurer Betty Kirby-Green, who flew from England to Cape Town in 1937 in “The Burberry“ plane in a record-breaking round trip. Dressed in the all weatherproof Burberry gabardine is Dominic West, who essays the role of polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. West is said to have worn the iconic garments for three of his Antarctic expeditions. Singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas also appears in the "trailer".
The inspiring storyline is set against the backdrop of the World War I. The only thing missing is a cameo by former British prime minister Winston Churchill.
Burberry’s invention of the water-proof fabric gabardine put the British military at the top of the best-dressed list in their iconic trench coats. With Brexit’s storm clouds hanging over the still damp economy, it is a good thing he made the fabric weather-proof.
The fictionalised approximation is a celebration of the British heritage of the luxury fashion brand which was founded in 1856 and opened its first store on Haymarket street, London, in 1891.
“The film is really the story of Thomas Burberry,” Kapadia told Reuters. “It is the story of Burberry as a man and the person who created the fabric which created the label which has become a huge fashion brand.”
James hopes the trailer come out with a full movie too. “With the amount of footage we shot, I’m sure they could have made a film,” she said, adding, “We invested in the characters, and it was shot like a normal film.”
The screenplay was written by Matt Charman, who also wrote the Academy Award nominated Bridge of Spies. The song Diminuendo was performed by Lawless and features singer Britt Warner. Last year’s Christmas advertisement starred model Naomi Campbell, musician Sir Elton John, 12-year-old celebrity Romeo Beckham, among other famous names, sporting the brand’s iconic checks in the festive film.
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