Meet me the 5th day of the 5th month…

There are scents that linger in your memory forever. The scent of the holidays, of family gathering… The scent of your first love… Imagine if a perfume were infusing that moment of destiny and present at that first meeting, making it all the more memorable.

Destiny and meetings that change one’s life are at the heart of Chanel N°5′s history, with the life of Coco Chanel as a testament to fate.

On May 5 premieres the new Chanel Number Five advert and for those of you who thought that Nicole Kidman’s version was too Hollywood and not quintessentially French enough, this one ought to satisfy.

First, the scenery, the mythical Orient-Express for the most part and one of its iconic destinations: Istanbul. The story itself is pretty simple: a woman, a man, a moment that changes the path of their lives forever. To guide them -and us- and link them, her sillage, Chanel N°5.

We find Audrey Tautou, currently on-screen as Coco Chanel in the biopic “Coco Avant Chanel”, a very different character, softer and more feminine. Perhaps is she the Coco that might have been, if her life had been fraught with drama? The very cushy Orient-Express and the almost-sepia tones of the movie evoke luxury and the colour of the perfume itself.

Behind the camera is Jean-Pierre Jeunet, who has already worked twice with Audrey, first on Amélie Poulain, then on Un Long Dimanche de Fiançailles, which were both met with success.

With every detail carefully thought out, this new offering is definitely romantic and in keeping with a certain idea of romance. It also speaks volumes on the quality of the cast and crew on this set which was rather unlike others, which is fitting for a house like Chanel that is not quite like any other…

Filming in such a confined space as a train carriage looked like it was a real challenge, between lighting issues, space issues and the perpetual movement. Certainly for anyone who has travelled on a night train -albeit less luxurious ones than the Orient Express- the cramped spaces make creativity a necessity in order to be comfortable, so I can imagine what it must have been like with the bevvy of equipment required to make a movie!

What amazes me most in the Istanbul shots is that nowhere do you see the ubiquitous supertankers that mar the narrow stretch of sea constantly.

If you want to go on that trip too, meet me on May 5 at http://www.chaneln5.com