She is shown admiring "Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss." It is the only work of art that was given a close-up in the 30 second spot. There was a wide shot of her in front of the Mona Lisa with the mildly interested kids, but for Cupid and Psyche she is shown standing alone and gazing intently, filmed from both the front and back. The Mona Lisa is the most famous painting in the Louvre if not the world, but "Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss" is normally eclipsed by "Venus de Milo" and "The Winged Victory of Samothrace" among the sculptural masterpieces in the Louvre. (Either would have worked for Women's Day.) This depiction of the mythical love story of Cupid and Psyche "where love endures against all odds" is described as "a gorgeous rendition of true love."
Apropos.
She likely had a hand in directing the clip just as she co-directed the first Mon Guerlain video with Terrence Malick.
As she has done many times, she made a specific choice to give a consistent message: their love endures against all odds.
"Everybody knows there is never just the tragedy of life, or the humor of life or pure joy of life. Relationships have those extremes. You can absolutely madly love the same person you want to kill."
“When something happens in your life that’s a dramatic thing, you either pull together or you go into your own. So many times, people divorce very quickly. To me, if this film has a message, it’s that you have to try to weather the storm together no matter what. And that’s a beautiful thing.”
“It’s also very important to have a common goal. That’s what keeps people together—your moral fiber is the same and you have something that you are doing together that matters. You have purpose and certainly children are the easiest way to have the sense of purpose together because no matter what, they are first.”
“Being artists, we both do talk a lot which is very helpful in a relationship”
"We thought, this is the best honeymoon because we felt, as the film says in the end—whatever you go through, weather the storm and stay together. It was a message to each other of we are going to weather whatever comes and we are going to stick together."
"My whole family… we’ve all been through a difficult time... We are and forever will be a family. I am coping with finding a way through to make sure that this somehow makes us stronger and closer.”
"I wear perfume every day, unless I'm in a country where there is malaria and mosquitoes. It's nice for a woman to have a scent that her lover remembers, who identifies it with her. But we do not perfume only for men.”
"For me this period has really been about looking at my weaknesses and failures and owning my side of the street."
"I do remember a few spots along the road where I've become absolutely tired of myself. And this is a big one. These moments have always been a huge generator for change."
"Sitting with those horrible feelings, and needing to understand them, and putting them into place. In the end, you find: I am those things I don't like. That is a part of me. I can't deny that. I need to face that and take care of that.
"I know the people who love me know me. And that's enough for me."
"I’m not suicidal or something. There’s still much beauty in the world and a lot of love. And a lot of love to be given."
“None of it’s easy. It’s very, very difficult, a very painful situation, and I just want my family healthy,”
(The DeMille) "is a big jump forward for us, and we’re all trying to do our best to heal our family."
"We’re all just healing from the events that led to the filing . . . They’re not healing from divorce. They’re healing from some . . . from life, from things in life.”
"We care for each other and care about our family, and we are both working towards the same goal."
"I think it is not said enough how much we need the men in our lives to be strong and capable and the best they can be.”
“I have a responsibility to myself and my family to remain true and authentic. I treat people whom I love honestly and sincerely.”
The whole family has been under the radar since the Feb. 25 screening she hosted for Chiwetel Ejiofor and The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind.
Thanks Felicity
Angelina Jolie on Women's Day and the responsibility to do good https://t.co/Vqi9RY9kML pic.twitter.com/cD4okH4XbA— ELLE Canada (@ElleCanada) March 1, 2019
“I love the way they’ve added rose and lavender to the jasmine and sandalwood of the original Mon Guerlain to create the Bloom of Rose variation,” says Jolie of the new scent. Guerlain Mon Guerlain Eau de Toilette Bloom of Rose ($108 for 50 mL), at guerlain.com.
"It is about the reality of life for so many people and our responsibility to do whatever we can to help others in our own way."How does one prepare to meet Angelina Jolie? “I didn’t know what to expect,” says Guerlain master perfumer Thierry Wasser of his first meeting with the accomplished actress, filmmaker, humanitarian and partner of the French luxury brand on its line of Mon Guerlain fragrances, which celebrate women. “But I discovered an amazing human being who is working her soul for sisterhood.”
It’s not an overstatement: Jolie has used her longtime role as special envoy to the United Nations’ refugee agency to advocate for an end to sexual violence and is a co-founder of the British government’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative. In 2017, she co-authored an op-ed in The Guardian calling the indifference to violence against women “humanity’s shame,” and last year she penned a piece for The Economist on the growing refugee crisis.
And despite her A-list status, Jolie always keeps the spotlight on her causes, not herself. When asked how she handles the weight of working on such injustices without feeling consumed by it, the mother of six tells us: “I don’t ever think of it being about me or my feelings. It is about the reality of life for so many people and our responsibility to do whatever we can to help others in our own way. But if we didn’t all have that inner sense of what is right and wrong and if we weren’t angered by injustice, we would never change anything.”
Here, the 43-year-old star reflects on the importance of International Women’s Day (March 8) and what it means to her.
You have so many projects to choose from; why was working with Guerlain one you said yes to?
“I’d never endorsed a perfume before and wouldn’t unless I was sure we share the same values. They have a genuine commitment to the environment and the communities they work with. I love the history of the company—it’s the oldest perfume house in the world and has been making fragrances for women for 200 years.”
How much of a role has fragrance played in your life?
“I think for all of us, scent has the power to evoke memories and feelings. My mother used a Guerlain powder that she kept for special occasions. I remember it very clearly from my childhood. Guerlain tracked it down for me, and it instantly brought back memories of her.”
What does International Women’s Day mean to you and why is it important to mark this day?
“It is about recognizing the equal right of all women everywhere to lead a life free of any kind of violence, oppression or control by others. It is about valuing all women equally and not accepting the idea that some women are denied their rights simply because they were born in certain countries. I think there is a fundamental misconception that rights for women come at the expense of men. A society in which women are free and equal is better for everyone.”
“I feel deeply for them. There aren’t enough laws and protections for them.”
What do you recommend to women who feel overwhelmed by fighting injustices in their own lives?
What do you want your daughters to know about heading into womanhood?
“That they should never be afraid to say what they think or to fight for what they believe in.”
This article first appeared in the March 2019 issue of ELLE Canada
