Australian actress Nicole Kidman and Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro appeared in a two minute film (with 60 seconds of credits) promoting Chanel No. 5 perfume in 2004, a film directed by Baz Luhrmann, the director of Moulin Rouge. Kidman plays the part of a seductive actress who flees the paparazzi. She jumps into a taxi and tells the driver to just drive. Sitting beside her is a young writer, a connection reminiscent of Moulin Rouge. What follows is a romance that leads to the pivotal moment – the look. The Chanel No. 5 ad is said to have been budgeted at $102 million, including the creation of a necklace of 687 diamonds forming the iconic number 5.
Credits
The film concept was developed by Chanel art director Jacques Helleu.
Filming was shot in Sydney in 2003 by director Baz Luhrmann via Bazmark and Revolver Film with director of photography Mandy Walker, line producer Michael Ritchie, executive producer Anton Monsted, and editor Daniel Schwarze.
Luhrmann was also director for William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Moulin Rouge, Strictly Ballroom, and is soon to release his film, Australia.
Music is Claire De Lune By Debussy, performed by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, arranged and conducted by English composer Craig Armstrong.
The five dresses worn by Kidman were designed by Karl Lagerfeld. Production and additional costumes were designed by Catherine Martin.
Visual effects were developed at Animal Logic, by a large team led by VFX supervisor Chris Godfrey.
Behind the Scenes
Click on the image below to play the video.
The film had its world premiere on Australia’s Channel 9 television network on 5th October 2004. It was screened at the end of the popular television programme, A Current Affair. This was the first time the film had been shown to the public in its entirety.
The film was shown on Australian cinemas, first on Friday, 12th November 2004, and on Australian television, first on Sunday, 14th November 2004. “Chanel No. 5 The Film” – the half-hour “making of” documentary – premiered on Australian television at 10:30pm on Monday, 15th November 2004.
Craig Armstrong is Scottish.