All the pre-viewing reviews and hype I had read about Valentino: The Last Emperor was 110% on the money. It was pure fashion escapism that made me fall more in love with fashion and it’s characters.

Like The September Issue, this was a documentary about two people who’s relationship kept their brand as iconic as the day they begun their journey together. Valentino Garavani would never have been the man he is today with his business partner and companion of more than 50 years, Giancarlo Giammetti. It’s their love for each other that built an empire.

In Valentino: The Last Emperor, we get to see the world of Valentino through the eye of Matt Tyrnauer who was a fly-on-the-wall during the last two years of Garavani’s time at the house of Valentino. We witnessed the corporate takeover of the brand to the three-day long celebration of the celebrated career of the man behind the house of Valentino.

I don’t want to say much more because this is a must-watch documentary with the likes of Karl Lagerfeld a small role (who says on film “compared to the us, the rest are making rags”) and then there are Valentino’s six adorable Pug dogs which toddle along with him everywhere he goes.

It’s fascinating viewing, check out Valentinomovie.com for screening locations near you – it hits selected cinemas in Australia on 17 September 2009.

Watch the trailer for Valentino: The Last Emperor below: