Armani, Ozpetek: ‘He was always there at the premieres of my films’

Milan, 6 September (LaPresse) – “It was 1997. I had made my first film, Il bagno turco, but no one wanted it, perhaps because it was spoken in two different languages, perhaps because it dealt with sensitive issues. The fact is that after nine months of waiting, during which I wasn’t working and had no financial means, the film was finally selected for the Cannes Film Festival, at the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs. It was a triumph for me, but unfortunately I didn’t even have a tuxedo and I had trouble buying one. After two days of panic, shared with my agent, a costume designer friend mentioned it to Giorgio Armani, who sent me a beautiful tuxedo.” Turkish director Ferzan Ozpetek said this in an interview with La Stampa. ‘He always came to the premieres of my films, he didn’t want to miss them,’ he said. ‘Once he postponed a trip to America to come to the premiere of Saturno Contro in Milan. I will always remember his love for Le fate ignoranti.’ When La Finestra di fronte was not nominated for an Oscar, Armani ‘said to me: “I’m so sorry. It happens, don’t worry”. Giorgio Armani had the power to make me feel important, me who has never felt that way in my life and still doesn’t. He knew how to make me feel at ease, as only the greats know how to do,’ adds Ozpetek.