Roman Polanski Directs Helena Bonham Carter and Ben Kingsley in New Prada Short Film

Director creates quirky film for Italian fashion house.

Question: What's the result when you team a storied fashion brand (Prada), a controversial and acclaimed film director Roman Polanski and actors Helena Bonham Carter and Ben Kingsley?

Answer: "A Therapy." The quirky new short film that made its debut during the Cannes Film Festival.

At around three and a half minutes long, the film follows Bonham Carter's character (a wealthy, yet lonely woman) as she pays a visit to her therapist played by Ben Kinsgley. Beautifully styled, of course, the film manages to convey the Prada sensibility (timeless with an offbeat edge) while managing to stand alone as a slice-of-life vignette.

"It’s very refreshing to know that there are still places open to irony and wit and, for sure, Prada is one of them," said Polanski In a statement about the making the film.  "When I was asked to shoot a short movie for Prada, I did not think that I could really be myself, but the reality is that in the total freedom I was given, I had the opportunity to reunite my favorite group of people on set and just have fun. The chance to dwell on what the fashion world represents nowadays and the fact that it is accompanied by so many stereotypes is fascinating and the same time a bit upsetting, but you definitely cannot ignore it."

"A Therapy" marks Prada's second foray into the film world in as many weeks. Those attending the "Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations" exhibit at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art can view a Baz Luhrmann-directed short featuring fashion designer Miuccia Prada (playing herself) and actress Judy Davis (playing deceased designer Elsa Schiaparelli). The exhibit opened to the public on May 10 and will continue through August 19, 2012.

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