It’s impossible to imagine a Baz Luhrmann production without some grand romanticism. His new short film, a four-minute ad for H&M touting the fashion brand’s new collaboration with Erdem, showcases Luhrmann’s eye for passion.
The spot seems to be inspired by Charles Dickens’ 1861 novel Great Expectations—an older woman in a dilapidated yet gorgeous estate introduces a younger set to desire—minus the class issues, plus a more gender-fluid look at attraction. (Or, at least, it may be inspired by Alfonso Cuarón’s 1998 film adaptation of Great Expectations.)
Luhrmann is the director of films like William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, The Great Gatsby and Moulin Rouge! as well as the Netflix show The Get Down.
“I wanted the film to be like a whole movie,” said Luhrmann in a statement. “It’s a very modern love story, set in a country house that is full of its own secrets, and it’s like a metaphor for our times—it’s harsh out there in the world, but in here, the things that really matter keep growing in an eternal spring.”
The ad also debuts a new song, “Hypnotized,” from the band Years & Years. The new collection from H&M and Erdem will be available Nov. 2.
CREDITS
Creative Agency/Production Company: Bazmark Inq LLC
Director/Key Creative: Baz Luhrmann
Producers: Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Catherine Knapman
Designer: Catherine Martin
Editor: Jonathan Redmond
VFX Art Director: Chris Tangney
Director of Photography: Peter Suschitzky
UK Co-production Company: Biscuit Filmworks UK Limited
Post Production & VFX: Absolute Post
Sound Editing & Mix: Postworks New York
Music
Music Arrangement: Turning Studios
Music Supervision: Earworm Music
Music Soundtrack: YEARS & YEARS
Composers: Michael Thomas Goldsworthy, Oliver Alexander Thornton, Resul Emre Turkmen, Mark Stuart Ralph
Title of music: HYPNOTISED
Music Published by: Universal Music Publishing AB, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Scandinavia KB
Music Master recording: Universal Music Operations Limited
Actors: Ruby Dagnall, Dame Harriet Walter, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Tom Rhys Harris, Peter Burrows
Models: Saskia de Brauw, Imaan Hammam, Grace Hartzel, Fernando Cabral, Luca Lemaire, Neels Visser, Tony Ward
