Olivier Rousteing biopic released in cinemas in France

By

Chenu Alexis

Translated by
Nicola Mira

Published
Dec 2, 2019

‘Wonder Boy, né sous X’ (Wonder boy, parents unknown), the documentary film tracing the personal story of Balmain’s creative director Olivier Rousteing, was released in cinemas in France last Wednesday, having first been screened on French TV channel Canal + on October 16. The biopic shows a side of Rousteing's life that is a far cry from the catwalk shows.

Director Anissa Bonnefont followed Rousteing for two years, as he embarked on a journey to find his biological parents. Rousteing was adopted by a Bordeaux family when he was one month old.
 
Obsessed with tracing his own roots, Rousteing takes the audience of this one hour 39 minute-long film with him in his quest, from his first appointment at France’s national centre for tracing children’s parentage to the discovery of his files and ethnic origins (Somali and Ethiopian), and his various attempts to actually find his parents. 

“I wanted to show the other side of fame and success,” says Rousteing in the film, adding that “the pact I made with Anissa Bonnefont was that I would be allowed to be as sincere and authentic as possible, without embellishments, without any addition. I broke down at times, and I willingly kept those scenes, crucial moments for my understanding of who I am and the road I’ve travelled on.”