Style Edit: Scarlett Johansson stars in Prada’s Galleria bag surrealist short film
The Prada Galleria – loved by style icons from Kate Middleton to Hailey Bieber – remains a cult classic, as its latest campaign shows
Named after Prada’s first historic boutique in Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the Galleria may pay tribute to its history but is also very much part of its future. Featuring a sophisticated rectangular top-handle silhouette, it is crafted from 83 hand-finished pieces of textured Saffiano leather, a unique material that was patented by Mario Prada. Since then, it has become a symbol of constant reinvention, updated each season in styles that mirror the times while remaining a cult classic.
This season, Prada breaks new ground by pairing the actress with a new visionary – award-winning director Yorgos Lanthimos. A reflection of Lanthimos’ signature narrative complexity and surrealism, this memorable short film is transformed into a microcosm of a feature movie and reframes the characters of both the bag and Johansson.
The film presents Johansson enacting complex and mysterious rituals and strange actions within archetypal settings of modern life. Through these processes, she becomes multiple versions of herself as she is renewed and transformed over and over again.
The Prada Galleria plays a starring role as a vessel for this magical change and acts as a talisman that is central to the ritual and the everyday performance of life itself. Johansson’s character, like the Galleria, is ever-changing and forever shifting season after season. The result is a poignant film that not only investigates the fluidity of the actress’ persona but also of the brand itself.