Nylons blues

Françoise Levie & 52' — 1991

There are many anecdotes, some serious, some light-hearted, surrounding the invention and manufacture of the nylon stocking. Their fine thread of seduction runs through great historical moments and international events. The inhuman exploitation of female workers in the artificial silk factories. The requisition of used nylons from American women to make sacks for gunpowder. The arrival of the first nylon stockings in Europe, brought by the American army. Nylons and the fantasies surrounding them, nylons and the Second World War, nylons and the modern woman, nylons and haute couture. Film clips, Marlene Dietrich in The Blue Angel, Cyd Charisse in Silk Stockings, Arletty in Tempête. With the photographer Irina Ionesco and the photographs of Christian Carez, the designer Chantal Thomass, the sculptress Micheline Jacques, the dancers from the Crazy Horse,… and the latest invisible mender from Paris. As well as interviews with some of the American and Canadian soldiers who first brought nylons to Europe after the war, and the memories of the French and Belgian women who were given them…

Belgium

Production : SOFIDOC
Coproduction : CBA, RTL-TVi, FMPD (France), West in Motion (Luxembourg)
With the support of the Centre du cinéma et de l’Audiovisuel de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, Eurimages, Ministère d’Etat du Grand Duché du Luxembourg.

Réalisation
Françoise Levie
Scenario
Françoise Levie
DOP
Raymond Fromont, Ariane Damain
Sound
Miguel Rejas
Image editor
Henri Erissmann
Mix
Ugo Magnus
Production
Pierre Levie
Image Format
16mm
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