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Image Courtesy: Mandatory
Angelina Jolie made waves at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival's world premiere of 'Couture,' not just for her famous red carpet appearance but also for the intensely moving moment she shared during the Q&A. Jolie, visibly moved, spoke candidly about her late mother, Marcheline Bertrand's cancer journey, drawing an intimate and heartfelt connection between the film's themes and her own life.
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Image Courtesy: Daily Mail
A Personal Connection Beyond the Red Carpet
While Jolie's coat-dress pose on the TIFF red carpet—reminiscent of her legendary 2012 Oscars moment—was all anyone could talk about, it was her emotional honesty inside that truly struck a chord. In 'Couture,' she portrays Maxine, an American film director in Paris grappling with a breast cancer diagnosis amidst personal turmoil.
During the Q&A, a grief-stricken audience member asked Jolie to offer words of hope to those affected by cancer. Jolie stopped, choking, and then said, "I'm so sorry," recalling her mother's words, "All anybody ever asks me about is cancer." She emphasized that we must acknowledge the full humanity of the person we are helping, not just the illness.
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Image Courtesy: IMDb
Given the film's purposeful depiction of its protagonist's complex life—not as a patient, but as a mother, artist, and lover—the impact of Jolie's remarks was amplified. Notably, Jolie has a personal history of cancer: by the time she aged 50, both her mother and grandmother had received chemotherapy, which led to her own avoidable double mastectomy in 2013 after it was determined that she had a high familial risk.
Living Fully in the Face of Adversity
Jolie opened up about her health, choices, and family heritage while walking the red carpet at the age of 50. Jolie noted that cancer may either make you feel helpless or inspire you to live life to the fullest. "My mother and grandparents by this age were in chemotherapy," she remarked. She hopes that by being transparent, she will inspire others to make the same decision—to live bravely and presently.
That philosophy is artistically affirmed by 'Couture' itself. The film, which is directed by Alice Winocour, follows Maxine as she manages a cancer diagnosis, work-related demands, and personal turmoil while maintaining her individuality and creative spirit. Jolie's emotional engagement gives realism to the role, highlighting the need of acknowledging patients as entire, living persons.
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Image Courtesy: Hello! Magazine
The film which made its debut in the Special Presentations section of the Toronto International Film Festival on 7th September, is now slated to hit cinemas on 15th October.
