"I feel like it's such a personal film": Angelina Jolie on 'Couture'
Los Angeles, June 26
Hollywood star Angelina Jolie is bringing one of her most personal stories to the big screen with 'Couture', a new drama that explores love, self-discovery and a life-changing breast cancer diagnosis, according to People.
A clip from the film shows Jolie's character, Maxine, an American filmmaker, receiving a pivotal phone call informing her of a breast cancer diagnosis while she is in Paris during Fashion Week.
According to the film's official synopsis, Maxine travels to Paris for work but soon finds herself balancing a major professional project, a romance with a French colleague played by Louis Garrel, and a deeply personal health crisis.
"Drawn into a love story with a familiar collaborator as her path intersects with women of different ages and cultural backgrounds, all fighting to take control of their own destinies, Maxine finds herself on a deeply personal journey of self-discovery that forces her to confront the choices shaping her life," reads the official synopsis, according to People.
The film holds particular significance for Jolie, whose own life has been shaped by her family's history with cancer. In 2013, the Oscar-winning actress underwent a preventive double mastectomy after learning she carried the BRCA1 gene. Her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, died of ovarian and breast cancer in 2007 at the age of 56, while her aunt and grandmother also succumbed to the disease.
Couture premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2025 and features Ella Rumpf, Garance Marillier, Anyier Anei and Vincent Lindon alongside Jolie, who also serves as a producer on the film, according to People.
Speaking to Variety at the film's premiere, Jolie revealed she wore one of her late mother's necklaces throughout filming for comfort.
"I feel like it's such a personal film," she said. "It felt so private that in my mind, it's probably the one film that doesn't feel like a film."
During a TIFF Q&A session, Jolie became emotional while reflecting on her mother's experience with cancer after an audience member asked the cast to share a message of hope for those living with the disease.
Recalling her mother's words, Jolie said Bertrand once told her family, "All anybody ever asks me about is cancer," according to People.
Offering her own message, the actress said, "I would say, if you know someone who is going through something, ask them about everything else in their life as well, you know? They're a whole person, and they're still living," according to People.
Following Couture, Jolie has several upcoming projects, including the thriller and an adaptation of the Scandinavian novel .
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally a Hollywood film that doesn't glamorize suffering. Jolie's courage in sharing her preventive mastectomy back in 2013 was a game-changer for awareness in India too. Many women in our country still hide such diagnoses. This film could start important conversations. Jai ho!
While I admire Jolie's work, I feel the film is too Western-centric. Why can't Hollywood ever show a cancer story set in India where family support is so central? Still, the message about asking someone about everything ELSE in their life is so valuable. 🤔
The way Jolie describes her mother's wish to be seen as more than just a patient is something we all need to hear. In India, we tend to define people by their illness. Aunty who has sugar, uncle who has BP... this film is a blessing. Can't wait to watch it!
Respect for Jolie's personal connection to this story. But why does every cancer film have to be so depressing? Could there be a bit more lightness like in 'The Fault in Our Stars'? Hope this doesn't just become another tearjerker. Still, looking forward to it.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.