Marc Jacobs is the icon we all want to be. With his blunt bob, silver chrome nails and a witty tongue, Jacobs’ appearance in the documentary “Marc by Sofia” makes it clear from the get-go why he has become one of the most well-respected and influential names in fashion.

The film, which premiered at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in September 2025 and is now on a limited run, includes an exclusive conversation between director Sofia Coppola and Marc Jacobs, concept sketches of Jacobs’ most iconic designs and scenes from his artistic influences. Simultaneously, the documentary follows him and his team as they prepare for the 2024 Spring collection runway show.

The documentary shines in its combination of Coppola’s aesthetic mastery with a multimedia presentation of Jacobs’ innovative contributions to the fashion world. Their individual visions manifest coherently into what I can only describe as a Pinterest board in video form. The editing provides a constant sensory experience, from the grungy soundtrack, which features Sonic Youth, Blondie and The Strokes, to the clips of Bob Fosse’s choreographed dance numbers, including “Maybe This Time” from “Cabaret” (1972) and “Big Spender” from “Sweet Charity” (1969), to overlapping sketches of past designs. The growth and purpose behind Jacobs’ style is heavily on display throughout the film.

The editing is by far the strongest part of the movie, seamlessly combining the different forms of media in a way that weaves together both past and present storylines. That being said, my biggest critique is that the rapid cuts between clips led to a jarring, ever-changing aspect ratio. In narrative movies where the ratio changes with a large plot point or plot-twist revelation, this stylistic choice can be really successful. In “Marc by Sofia,” which lacks a plot to drive the documentary, this decision was an annoying distraction from the otherwise cohesive aesthetic. 

In a relatively short 87-minute run time, “Marc by Sofia” manages to pack in a substantial amount of content from the team’s 12 weeks of work. However, I found the included footage to be quite repetitive. Jacobs picks a fabric, picks a color, picks a silhouette, picks a nail polish and so on, again and again. It was clear how much thought goes into putting together a runway show, but I was waiting for there to be something more. Instead, I was left wondering how he and his team might deal with last-minute changes, what his routine on show day looked like and how he prevented mistakes from repeating themselves, among numerous other questions. Unfortunately, the film provided little supplementary information, leaving my questions unanswered. 

Though described on A24’s website as “an intimate, unconventional portrait,” the audience really only learns more about this one show and Jacobs’ general creative process as opposed to receiving an in-depth view of his life. The most personal information Jacobs discusses, such as the death of his father, living with his grandmother and his education at Parsons School of Design in New York City, can all be found with even the quickest glance at his Wikipedia page. 

Despite being such close friends, Coppola does not actually manage to unlock any vulnerable responses from Jacobs. In fact, the most personal moments occur when fashion students have the opportunity to ask him questions at a pop-up. While Coppola is undoubtedly talented in her field, it is clear that she has a novice understanding of fashion. I imagine that the included information would have been more in-depth had the two collaborated with a director more directly involved in the design space. 

As someone whose interest in the film came from a love for Coppola and not necessarily a thirst for new knowledge about the fashion industry, I actually learned a lot about the art’s technical aspect and the importance of cultural influences. But had I been a fan of Jacobs looking to get exclusive or new insight, I would probably have found it underwhelming. Because of this, I struggled to identify the target audience.

Unless you frequently watch movies just for vibes or are looking for a creative way to learn introductory information about fashion, you should skip out on the documentary’s limited run.