It looks like the coaches of the Vivier Express train are full of A-list travelers.
After Laura Dern, who starred in the inaugural episode of “Vivier Express Travelling Icons,” Roger Vivier has tapped Eva Green as the protagonist of the second installation of its series of whimsical short films aimed at spotlighting the label’s signature styles.
To be released on Thursday, the second episode further builds on the traveling theme staged in an Orient Express-like set, but with a new cinematic take nodding to the noir film genre. In the three-minute long video, Green is initially seen in her pink-hued coach in an Old Hollywood diva attire: her dark, wavy mane parted on a side matching her black skirt suit and crystal-encrusted sunglasses, in a glam look accessorized with the I Love Vivier red suede pumps at her feet and a Viv’ Choc handbag sitting closely to her.
As she flicks through a big book with quotes from the brand’s founder, an alter ego to her character is introduced. This new role – also played by Green – opens to a black-and-white segment during which the two characters interact and optical renditions of the same accessories make an appearance. The scene turns back to color and the episode closes with a plot twist, as a director calls “Action” and a movie-within-the-movie concept is revealed to viewers.
Roger Vivier’s creative director Gherardo Felloni defined Green “perfect” to convey his vision, inspired by “noir films from the ‘40s and ‘50s associated with a low key, black–and-white visual style that has roots in German Expressionism cinematography, a genre that has always fascinated me.”
“It is a world where shadows speak, and every glance hides a secret. I envisioned Eva Green as our modern-day femme fatale, not just wearing the shoes and accessories but bringing them to life, infusing them with a sense of danger and desire,” said Felloni, adding that the French actress channeled the allure of the likes of Lauren Bacall and Bette Davis.
“She is an extremely talented actress, there is something eminently glamorous in her,” he continued. “She is sophisticated and contemporary, yet at the same time mysterious and enigmatic.”
The designer and Green met a few months ago in the intimacy of a Parisian hotel patio. “We had a long conversation about our love for cinema and I was touched by her deep culture for fashion,” recalled Felloni.
Green shared that after the first encounter she attended the brand’s fall 2024 presentation, where she got to see the black-and-white pumps she would have worn in the film for the first time.
“It was a joy to meet Gherado in person,” said Green. “He is kind, creative and funny. These are three excellent qualities that I admire in a man.” About the brand itself, she said she appreciate its “brilliant ability to fuse elegance with fantasy – Gherado creates an alchemy which is sophisticated and intelligent. But it’s also an invitation for playfulness and dreams. It’s a brand that reminds us beauty can be both endlessly thoughtful and expressive.”
In addition to her acting prowess and her extensive work – which ranges from her iconic debut role in Bernardo Bertolucci’s 2003 film “The Dreamers” and playing Vesper Lynd in the James Bond’s franchise 2006 film “Casino Royale” to starring in the critically acclaimed TV series “Penny Dreadful” and appearing in several movies directed by Tim Burton, such as “Dark Shadows” and “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” – Green is renowned for her daring sense of fashion. Her gothic elegance and penchant for dark dramatic outfits contribute to making her stand apart on red carpets.
“I am one of those people who needs a bit of outside inspiration,” said Green about her approach to fashion. “Once acquired, I tend to gravitate towards classic silhouettes with a touch of bold edge. Putting together a red carpet look is a bit like crafting a character for the evening – each piece tells a story, capturing the theme and the mood of the event. My stylists are the unsung heroes, helping transform the idea into the reality.”
While the actress is already focused on her next project – director Bahman Ghobadi’s upcoming film, currently titled “The Trees” and centered on his experiences of living in exile for over 20 years, far from his homeland Iran – she recalled the shooting days on the Vivier set to be “a delightful experience – a real meeting of artistry and vision.”
“The Italian train set added an almost magical quality. The atmosphere felt alive, like a whirlwind of energy, with every scene capturing the romance and intrigue of travel,” she said. “My fondest memory is the quality of the set design and the lighting. There’s something brilliant about the Vivier Express that feels like a little marionette theatre where sweet dreams might – one day – come true.”
Known for his flamboyant vision and theatrical presentation concepts inspired by his passion for music and opera, Felloni has always infused a cinematic element in his approach to collections and relied on this medium since his appointment in 2018 to further telegraph the brand’s joie de vivre and eclectic styles.
Green also believes the designer is “a good person to have in a director’s chair” as she revealed she’s “trying to encourage him to design shoes and direct his own films,” she said.
Felloni’s nature is very much in sync with Roger Vivier’s own strong bond with the world of cinema. The brand entered the pop culture pantheon on the heels of Catherine Deneuve’s role in Luis Buñuel’s 1967 movie “Belle de Jour,” in which the actress sported the original version of the Roger Vivier signature buckle pump.
Since taking the creative helm of the brand, Felloni has worked with renowned actresses who embody the label’s essence of romantic exuberance and playful creativity, including the likes of Isabella Rossellini, Isabelle Huppert, Christina Ricci, Susan Sarandon, and even Deneuve herself.
