Men of the Cloth (2013) User Reviews

Pride in craft

[webbwv57 · 9/10 · 26 October 2014]

I had been waiting to view this film after learning of it from my husband's tailor. Finally Men of the Cloth came to Minneapolis as part of the exhibit Italian Style: Fashion since 1945 at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

Vicki Vasilopoulos brings to our attention the art of the custom tailor and the dilemma facing the trade as the old guard ages without enough apprentices to pass on their knowledge. She introduces us to three well established Italian (in Italy and the US) tailors and gives us a glimpse of their dedication and talent as well as a few of their modern apprentices.

In recent years, there has been some revival of the hand crafted in this country and hopefully this film will inspire such a revival in the custom suit trade. The tailors, the clients and their suits restore some beauty and humanity back into our lives.

Wonderful portrait

[geralynabi · 9/10 · 7 April 2014]

This is a wonderful documentary that celebrates the work and lives of a dying breed of artists - tailors. Vasilopoulos has created a moving portrait of these men that pulls you into their lives, dreams and work. The real art of tailors has been forgotten or not even known by so many now - with off the rack clothing and alterations quickly done at the dry cleaners. It was a pleasure to follow the tailors, many to their roots in Italy to the US and see how they made a place for themselves here. There's also a interesting section in Italy that explores a hybrid of tailoring skill and assembly line construction - something that was new to me. You can tell that Vasilopoulos really appreciates the work of these tailors and honors them in this beautiful film.

Why Men of the Cloth is Worth Seeing

[alisazahller · 9/10 · 20 April 2015]

Having worked with Colorado's Italian American community for many years, I always appreciate efforts to preserve Italian American culture and tradition. Men of the Cloth is a beautiful film about people, connections, art, change, culture and tradition. Viewers of the film see common themes among Italians/Italian Americans including love and respect of family and community, hard work, pride and generosity. Universal themes include change as constant and balancing the old ways with new. As an Italian American I connected with the people featured, and I felt a sense of pride watching this piece (and sadness for the severe decline of the art). As a historian I very much appreciated the stories and their relevance today. As an art lover I completely agree with the message that a suit is work of art.

Celebrates the Art & Craft of Tailoring

[shelby_racecar · 10/10 · 15 December 2015]

As a professor of historic dress for over 25 years, I must admit that "Men of the Cloth" has opened my eyes to the art and craft of tailoring. The passions and incredible talents exhibited in the film, by each master, is both moving and completely inspiring. The film also brings to life the rich history associated with developing design skills that go beyond ordinary into extraordinary. The relationship between tailoring and artistic drive is well documented and adds another dimension to this wonderful and important film that celebrates a threatened art within the field of design. The content is warm, engaging, informative and provides a thread of hope that the master craft of traditional tailoring will continue in the future. Be sure to have tissue on hand when viewing "Men of the Cloth" as it is impossible not to shed tears.

A fascinating look at Master Tailors and their dying art

[laurenrobert-74097 · 10/10 · 20 August 2015]

I start to scream when I try to thread a needle. So, I throw it back in the box and I just don't sew. My favorite clothes are my worn-thin t-shirt with the jagged scissor cut neck...and the cut-off pajama bottom shorts I dearly love. I just haven't cared much at all about the sewing arts. And yet, one day after viewing this stunning documentary...MEN OF THE CLOTH, produced and directed by Vicki Vasilopoulus, I am still resonating with one of the most delicious, heart-opening inspiring films I've ever seen. And films are something I really care very much about.

From the very start...the pristinely emotional score embraces the camera's divinely honest introductions to the films stars...the tailors and their assistants.The camera also quickly teaches us that the tailors' hands, the families of threads on the walls of the intimate workshops, the worn silver thimbles around old and younger bent thumbs, the silken textures of fine cloth and all the other unforgettable specialized tools of the trade...these glistening things too, become supporting stars in this dynamic drama. Though not actually shot in sepia, the visual tone of this film possesses what sepia suggests...historical significance, beautifully vital remembrances of times lost and the deeper implications of the subject's under-life. It is all there throughout. We are immediately relaxed and compelled by something that is weaving a magical spell around us with exquisite keenness. It is the simple purity and unfettered truthfulness of the men and the camera. I want to be pushed around by artistic experience. But I don't want to see how they're doing it. Ms. Vasilopolous and her team masterfully sneak up and break my heart. She and her subjects lift my spirit, muck around in my doubts and desires and stir my soul by introducing me to these joyful, devoted artisans. I immediately respect and adore their gleeful, yet abjectly serious commitment to their dying art of fine tailoring. We are immersed in only their worlds. The intimate shops and work stations where they conjure their beautiful, one-of-a- kind creations. The sound-scape, sometimes just the hiss of an iron, the rapid thump of sewing machine, and the heart-stopping deep cutting sounds of huge silver shears as they chew their way through a wildly expensive swatch of rare imported cloth...exactly on the lines!

No matter how long or short the camera lights on any one craftsman (yes, there is one woman in the film) we somehow feel that we are truly knowing them...and that we are proud and encouraged and lucky to meet them! Whether it is the glorious giggle that bubbles up from Master Tailor Joe Centofani's 90 year old laughter, or the subtlest nod like a priest giving blessing as he so meticulously inspects the seam of a newly formed jacket sleeve, we are heart -to-heart with these old world gentlemen. The filmmakers allow their subjects to unabashedly remind us of a world of fineness, dedication, the delicate emotional complexity of teacher and student. And most of all, we get to witness the glorious fruitful reward of following one's passion!

Over and over again it blossoms throughout this film! Passion, as the most vital concomitant of a life well-lived. Even as these men face the twilight of their careers...their passion, excitement and even renewing hope about the future remains vibrant! We need reminders like these.And Vasilopoulus, in this marvelous debut achievement, does this with an expertly gentle touch. Like the tailors themselves, as they translate their love and artistry into divinely handsome living works of art.

Though lives change throughout the eleven year gestation of this film, the viewpoint of the featured story tellers, as well as the filmmakers never wavers. Love, and its infinite manifestations continues to jump off the screen throughout. We see it, and feel it when the monasterial silence is broken for a rare moment as the men sit closely and sew, in the full-face testimonials of the older masters as they proudly...so proudly...declare their commitment to their beloved marriages to tailoring "until the day they die". And we see it in the serious smiling eyes of the young apprentices, who devoutly honor the gifted fathers of their craft and dream of attaining their same supreme standing in this rarefied world.

Don't miss the opportunity to view a most unusual gateway to love and honor. I left the theater full of both. Even for needles and thread.

Lauren Robert/Actor/ singer/Writer

A wonderful documentary

[meorens · 10/10 · 19 July 2015]

This is an excellent film. It will appeal to many people, on many different levels, but if you are interested in impeccably made clothing, master level craftsmanship, and honoring traditions, you will love this documentary. Such wonderful, talented men. I am so glad that the film-makers honored them by taking the time to document their skills before they are lost. Fine Tailoring is a time-consuming art, requiring years of training, and in this disposable world full of cheap clothing there is not as large a market for these beautiful clothes as there used to be. There are also not a lot of people anymore who are willing to spend the years required to learn these skilled trades. Hopefully, this will inspire people to not only learn to appreciate the skill involved, but maybe to even take up the art so this does not become a lost art.

About more than clothes

[patriferg · 10/10 · 3 March 2015]

Who would want to see a film about three custom tailors? Those who themselves are tailors or sewists, certainly. But people who have never picked up a needle and thread will enjoy the film as well. This is not a film about bespoke suits; it is is a film about character, craftsmanship and artistry. It is a film about perseverance and patience. It is, above all, a film about excellence. The viewer will take away a new appreciation for what we are losing in our quest for the new, the cheap, the fast. The pride that these tailors take in their creations is well-earned. The joy that their customers take in their investment in fine clothing is evident. There is beauty in this film, and it brought tears to my eyes.

Beautiful film about much more than clothes

[robertchiarito · 10/10 · 5 December 2013]

Men of the Cloth is a beautiful film about three master tailors and their life's work, weaving together their three stories into one about the craft and how the devotion of the men who practice it is much like a religion. I recently saw it at the DOC-NYC Film Fest and recommend that you look for it near you soon.

The film, made over 11 years, focuses on master tailors Nino Corvato from New York, Joe Centofanti, who works in the suburbs of Philadelphia and Checchino Fonticoli, who started in traditional tailoring but now works for the fashion house Brioni in Penne, Italy. For these men, custom tailoring is an art and there is no doubt that it is dying out. While the reasons for this vary and are covered, --it also shows hope for survival.

One may wonder why we should care about master tailors, and may think they only cater to the rich anyway. While it may not be feasible for most to buy custom made clothing these days – but like most fine art, custom made clothing is appreciated by even those who cannot afford to buy it. That said, the film is about the men, not the clothes.

We care about these men because watching the film, we envy the devotion and love they have for their work. How many of us can say we love our jobs even half as much as these men do theirs? For this is precisely what is at the heart of Men of the Cloth. It is not a film about a job or occupation. It is not about profit margins and how many stitches go into a pair of trousers or how exactly a pattern is made. Rather, Men of the Cloth is about the men whose vocation is "the cloth." It is about how this art (and it is an art) is slowly dying and how it has changed and yet despite the change, continues to live on. Simply put, Men of the Cloth is about passion.

memories of my father

[squirrelbuddy · 10/10 · 4 January 2015]

I just finished watching my copy of Men of the Cloth. I absolutely loved it. It brought up memories of my father who was a tailor. Everything in his workshop in our basement was on the screen. My father dressed just like the tailors showcased - with a tie, vest, shirt sleeves rolled up. Loved hearing the language.

My father spent years apprenticing in Italy before he came to the US in 1921. I am so glad I purchased the DVD. I will keep it in the family so young ones can learn of his craft. I loved seeing a suit created from beginning to end.

My father worked as a sleeve fitter for a large company in Philadelphia. He would create in his workshop at home and people would come to have suits and coats made. It gave me a better appreciation + understanding of my father's art. I was born 20 years after my sisters and I did not realize how special his work truly was as I grew up.

One of the tailors featured was local to suburban Philadelphia. I enjoyed the local connection. It ended on a positive note to see a young man learn the craft as so many tailors are getting older with few young people stepping in. A real gem of a film.

All you need is a heart.

[Lucky_Nahum · 10/10 · 12 October 2015]

My reasons for watching any particular movie are clear, entertainment, education and it has to move me. Although this movie was light on the education part for me, it is only so because I lived this life. As the son of a master tailor and seamstress I often joke that they actually DID let me run around with scissors. So although I wasn't being told anything new, I am ecstatic that someone devoted the time and love it took to complete this project. My ecstasy unfolds on several levels; that it honors the work and art of my father and that of all master tailors, that I as a fashion designer am also, in my own way, practicing this loving art "of the cloth", and ultimately, but no less important, that it educates a public too immersed in instantly gratifying tidbits of life while wondering why so much of life seems to slip through their fingers.

I could write about this for days on end, but I will spare you as I would rather you do all you can to see this movie. Let me say only one last thing; you need not be a master tailor, a seamstress or in the fashion industry in any way to appreciate Men Of The Cloth, you simply have to have a heart.

documentation of craftsmanship

[sassbrown · 8/10 · 26 June 2015]

The preservation of craft and the stories around it are both relevant and fascinating. this film tells the story of several master tailors, separated geographically, but united in mastery of the craft. It honors the dedication and skill required to be a master tailor, and highlights both the loss and in some cases the resurgence of the craft. The film breaks down the complex series of steps required to produce a custom made suit of high quality. Following the practice of three master tailors who eloquently express their fear for the future of the craft, and the loss of skills in a generation not interested in taking the time to apprentice. A thoroughly worthy film, and an enjoyable watch.

Reverence for a Vanishing Vocation

[mariapusateri · 10/10 · 1 January 2014]

Men of the Cloth offers a window into the hearts and souls of Italian master tailors, a dying breed of artisans who hold a reverent passion for their craft. Ms. Vasilopoulos does an excellent job of telling the stories of these humble men. The main characters are engaging — especially master tailors Nino Corvato of New York and Joe Centofanti of Philadelphia, and former master tailor Checchino Fonticoli of Penne, Italy; it's an honor to have gotten to know them. Though the ever-changing industry of mass-manufacturing clothing has triggered the dwindling need for their custom, hand-made garments, they remain steadfast in "sculpting" cloth into a beautiful work of "art". Despite their vanishing vocation, it's inspirational to see how they each find a way to make it possible for their old world craftsmanship to live on.

Men of the Cloth

[mmcneil-60-679012 · 9/10 · 22 July 2014]

Watching Men of the Cloth is like watching genius in action. The mastery of the art of tailoring is so ingrained to the three featured tailors that they literally live the art. The film is emotional as we realize the tremendous sacrifice each makes to become a master and how total dedication was required to achieve mastery. While we admire the results of the years it takes to acquire the knowledge and skills, we are reminded that there will be a growing loss of this as the masters retire and pass on. A young man who desires to become a tailor is given the opportunity to work with a master, and spends four years learning and watching, but eventually leaves to pursue a more commercial approach to tailoring because that allows him the freedom to attempt what he watched. A small handful of young men are enrolled in a tailoring school in Italy that brings them in while still teenagers, similar to the traditional model of beginning training while very young. The gap isn't being filled in educational institutions who are limited to offering programs from 2-4 years in length and that have to meet student and market demand. What will become of the art of tailoring?

Men of the Cloth: The future of master tailors

[webber-80803 · 10/10 · 30 April 2015]

As a former fashion editor/journalist and now academic I loved this movie for many reasons. Vicki Vasilopoulis asks the question, what has happened to the art of tailoring first by looking at the history of tailoring in Italy where it originated. Studying tailoring was just as esteemed a career choice in Italian society as was medicine or law and young boys became apprentices as young as 14. She shares the stories of three older master tailors, one still in Italy working for Brioni (who has more recently started a school for young tailors through the company) and two in the U.S. who came here to make a living as tailors and how they were received here. The craft of tailoring was treated with more respect in Italy than here and the two men open up businesses in Philadelphia and New York. One tailor, takes in a young apprentice hungry to learn the craft and we see these narratives unfold and realize the passion all of these men have for what they do and what they make.

In this global and industrialized economy, products made by a slow human hand are becoming extinct. We see the beauty of a hand made suit and the steps involved in creating a made to measure garment come together in the film and long to know what is to become of this craft in the future. Vasilopoulis does an expert job showing the importance of tailoring in the history of Italian culture and why it should be preserved for generations to come. We come to know and love these characters because they are passionate and devoted to their work and don't want to retire because they are still learning and growing and are fearful their art will die when they do. I didn't want it to end. Bravo.

A "MASTER" PIECE IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD

[skm-73961 · 10/10 · 3 June 2019]

This is a subtle and deeply insightful ode to artistic patience. These beautiful "men of the cloth" are so completely aware that their craft is the measure of their lives that it resounds as a self-evident truth, when it is anything but. This is an immensely important film and of central to the reason we get out of bed in the morning, which is that every day and in every sense, work and love are one.

So much more.....

[lynnscoop · 10/10 · 15 December 2015]

This documentary is so much more than stories about the disappearing art of tailoring. It speaks to a new generation - sharing tales of an era of soulful passion, meticulous skill, lifeblood, respect, allegiance, and honoring the beauty of the human hand. Three tailors and an apprentice convey their experiences not only regarding expertise, but also share the wisdom garnered through dedicating one's soul to craft. It's beautifully filmed, comprehensive in scope, and extraordinarily heartfelt. Warning- Tissues needed for the diploma scene.

There are also fun facts, (who knew there was a Saint of Tailoring- could have used him in high school!), practical information on the creation process, and fit sessions which demonstrate the importance of measurement and understanding the nuances of the human body.

You really don't have to be someone who tailors or even sews to thoroughly enjoy this wonderful film. Major kudos to the filmmaker and her exceptional abilities to tell this beautiful story.

Engages and informs

[hfree-gonzaga · 10/10 · 16 October 2014]

I wasn't ready to leave the theater after watching Men of the Cloth. Though the film lasts 96 minutes, one shares years with the three Italian master tailors Ms. Vasilopoulos follows. They are wonderful and talented souls who let us into their shops and life stories while we watch them at their trade - chalking fabric, snipping cloth, fitting loyal customers.

The artisans' historical past seems always present in the film especially when we are taken to Italy where Nino, Joe and Checchino had a hand in this work as children. Each tailor, including young Joe the fourth character, makes the point that he is still learning. But if sartorial traditions are omnipresent, a future without new masters haunts the film.

Hats off to composer Chris Hajian whose music celebrates the passion behind the labor and the deep spiritual pleasure taken by these men when a hand- made custom suit meets its owner.

a film as masterfully crafted with the same passion as the tailors featured

[eriksellers · 10/10 · 10 December 2014]

As a tailor striving to be as studied and solidified in the craft as the masters featured in this film, my passion has be set ablaze once more. As someone who understands the labor of love that is tailoring, this film tugged my heart strings. Beautiful, passionate, skillfully, wonderfully made. A 10+ in my eyes. Bravo and can there be an encore?

I watched this film twice today and will watch it many more times. I learn something new each moment and if I'm not careful, I may learn Italian! This film is pure documentary and falls silent in times which for someone like myself with my attention span, may seem daunting but I actually got to digest what I was watching, learning and feeling. I can't recommend this enough for anyone interested in artisan work. Again, bravo.

A study of the commitment to craftsmanship and artistry

[lissadreyer · 10/10 · 16 October 2015]

The movie is a must see for anyone who wants to observe the passion that drives creativity and perfection. These are ordinary men who for various reason found themselves as tailor's apprentices and then embraced the craft with the kind of love and devotion that is rarely seen in the work world. And that may be because these men do not see what they do as work in the usual sense but as a kind of creative extension of themselves. The viewer gets to observe each step as a custom tailored suit is designed and sewn all the while the tailor is narrating how they came to the trade. There is also a certain poignancy in knowing that they are a dying breed both in this country and in their native Southern Italy. viewer need not be interested in cloth or fashion to appreciate this film.

inspiring tale for anyone creatively driven (or otherwise)

[oliviaraccardo · 9/10 · 21 May 2015]

Men of the Cloth is the moving story of the unfortunately disappearing art of tailoring. I come from an entirely not fashion/tailor/clothes-anything related background and I have to say this film held my attention throughout every single minute.

I was moved to tears following the stories of these committed, hardworking, and talented gentlemen as they discussed their passion for the craft and their stories of growing up with a needle and thread in their hands.

On another note (I come from a filmmaking background) I was impressed with the direction of the film, watching the men talk about their passion with a garment in hand or while fixing a suit so delicately. I understand how difficult it can be to interview "regular" people about their passion, while putting them in front of the camera. Not only did they seem comfortable on film, but even as English as a second language, everything they had to say was clear and kept me as an audience member on the edge of my seat. I felt for them, and cared about them, and cared for the tailors' clients and felt pride watching as the clients walked away from their shops in beautiful hand tailored suits.

Delightful, enlightening film

[amybarone · 9/10 · 24 December 2015]

I adored this film. Having lived in Italy and worked as a reporter for Women's Wear Daily, I understand the importance of fit, craftsmanship and textiles. I've long been an aficionado of "Made in Italy" fashion and accessories, design in general. I also value how the film took place in both Italy and the U.S. Vickie showed how the cultures came together, as well as how conflict ensued in some situations. The film was enchanting and also moved me, as I have grandparents from Abruzzo and one of the protagonists has his studio in Ardmore, PA near my hometown. I pass his shop every time I take the train to NYC and learned so many interesting facts about him in this film. I saw Men of the Cloth a second time with a family friend who worked as a seamstress - she loved it and bought the CD. Brava, Vickie!

Informative documentary about Italian tailors training, historically and now

[colleenkelly-86333 · 10/10 · 13 December 2015]

I was so happy when this documentary was shown in NYC. It profiles three Italian tailors, one in Italy, one in PA and the third in NYC. We learn about the apprentice system, in Italy, that trained them and their long careers.

It was wonderful to see the care they take working with their clients, making the patterns and fitting the suits.

Although the tailors bemoan the lack of younger, skilled tailors, there is a glimmer of hope. A young man apprentices with the PA tailor and builds a career for himself and Brioni (? or the company who purchased Brioni) opens a school, in Italy, to train future tailors.

I enjoyed the film and the discussion afterward. Thank you to the team that made this documentary!

A must-see for anyone who appreciates passion and craft

[martin-55229 · 10/10 · 3 July 2015]

This is a beautifully executed documentary about the craft and art of tailoring which are both in decline and in danger of disappearing altogether. It's a bittersweet story that shows the joy and passion for tailoring of the masters who remain and tailoring's uncertain future. The stories of three masters of the trade and one apprentice are woven together to illustrate what tailoring is, what's involved in mastering the craft, what the world of tailoring has been like over the past 50 or so years, and what the future may hold. To enjoy this film you don't really need to care about tailoring. If you appreciate passion and craft you will find watching this documentary to be time well spent. I didn't get a chance to purchase a DVD at the showing that I went to but I plan to get my hands on a copy so that I can study it. As one of the tailors profiled says, there is so much to learn about tailoring that you can spend your entire life at it.

Truly inspiring for any artists, craftsman or aspiring tailor!

[leslieasfour · 10/10 · 31 March 2014]

This documentary is an exceptional glimpse into the world of the Master Tailor - it is moving and inspirational, sad and profound and provides a tremendously respectful look into the art and skill of the world's finest craftsmen. The documentary focuses on three master tailors Nino, Joe and Checchino. They are charismatic, talented and method tailors who have carried this traditional craft into the 20th Century. In the modern world, they battle mass production,a much faster pace of production for even the finer suits. They refuse to give in and show us the beauty of their craft and of the bespoke suit.

The film maker does a brilliant job in making the viewers feel as though we are right there in the room, we are a part of the craft, watching, engaging and understanding the role the tailor plays in keeping alive an art appreciated by fewer and fewer customers. The film allows the viewers to truly appreciate the art and provides them with a brilliant hope in that the art will live on in a new generation.

Men of the Cloth

[tchanakas · 9/10 · 28 November 2015]

"Men of the Cloth" was an inspiring documentary that "digs deep" into the lost art of the tailoring industry. My cousin worked as kind of a tailor to alter suits in a high-end area in Maryland and I assumed he was a "tailor." These man in this film live and die this craft. I learned so much how labor intensive it is to create a suit: rolling out the yards of fabric; creating a distinctive pattern (each client has their own unique pattern); basting it together and the many "try-ons"until it becomes a real life suit. After I watched this film, I was ready to create my own suit. This "craft" is a labor of love.

Thanks for the film maker for bringing this art to the forefront.