There’s a New Comme des Garçons Movie—But It’s Not About What You Think It Is

Steff Yotka
Updated
There’s a New Comme des Garçons Movie—But It’s Not About What You Think It Is
A French film titled Comme des Garçons hits theaters this week. But what’s it about?

Comme des Garçons, Rei Kawakubo’s endlessly influential fashion collection, derives its name from a French phrase that translates to “like the boys.” Since the label’s founding in 1973, Kawakubo has affirmed her status as the owner of the Comme des Garçons idiom as she expanded her empire into sub-brands such as Comme des Garçons Shirt, offshoot projects with the likes of Gosha Rubchinskiy, and Dover Street Market retail locations. In the past 45 years, none have dared to use the phrase comme des garçons in any way except to reference Kawakubo. Well, until now.

A French dramedy, opening next week in theaters, chronicles the foundation of France’s first women’s national soccer team in 1968. The movie is titled Comme des Garçons.

The title comes from, one presumes, the female characters’ struggle to get their soccer league seen as legitimate as the men’s league is in France. If the trailer is any indication, the women succeed, but not without some roadblocks along the way. Also judging by the trailer, no characters are wearing conceptual outfits inspired by the unknowable truth of Zen koans. But I guess you’d have to see the whole movie to know that for sure.

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