What Bellucci presented that day could easily have doubled as a Dolce & Gabbana advertisement. In fact, her association with the brand is well known, as she previously served as one of their models before seamlessly transitioning into the world of film. The imagery and architecture of her ensemble spoke of the Mediterranean in all its resplendent beauty: sparkling jewels, lush full lips, and a lace-trimmed bra peeking out from beneath a figure-hugging dress. It was a celebration of femininity marked by titillating hints of skin, sun-kissed skin tones, and a nod to the glitz and allure of Hollywood. Adding to the aura surrounding this iconic portrait was the curious presence of a topless woman reclining on a sun lounger in a series of wider shots, amplifying the sense of mystique embodied by Bellucci herself. In the background, two assistants could be seen tenderly draping a dazzling Cartier necklace around her neck. This was particularly significant, as it was the same year that Cartier made Monica Bellucci their first-ever actress ambassador. Her body language was unmistakable, conveying a message that echoed through time: ‘I am your muse.’
At 33 years old, Bellucci was in Cannes to promote Jan Kounen’s Dobermann, where she portrayed a mute gun moll and had even taken the time to learn sign language for the role. “I love productions that emphasize the physical over the verbal,” she stated during an interview, capturing the essence of her approach to cinema. Here was a woman who truly understood the art of cultivating an aura of enigma around herself. This enigmatic charm is perhaps what Kendall Jenner’s homage to Bellucci’s moment at the film festival lacked when she donned a similar outfit from the same Dolce & Gabbana spring/summer 1997 collection years later. While Jenner undoubtedly looked model-perfect, one can’t help but notice that the charm exuded in Bellucci’s presence is hard to replicate in an era where life unfolds publicly through the lens of reality television. As Bellucci pointed out in April 2022, “The distance that once existed between the public and those in show business has disappeared,” reflecting on her admiration for Hollywood legends like Lauren Bacall, Joan Crawford, and Lana Turner.
Over the years, Monica Bellucci has graced the Promenade de la Croisette many times, with her most recent appearance being at a photocall for The Best Years of a Life in 2019. Yet, it is the iconic image from 1997 that continues to symbolize the quintessential super-yacht glamour of the Cannes Film Festival: an exquisite and rare fantasy, encapsulated in a moment that forever resonates with the golden age of Hollywood, a time when film stars possessed the uncanny power to sway the very fabric of reality with but a single glance or gesture.
