An actor is ceaselessly reinventing, and reinvented, transcending their own selves to embody the myriad of characters they can become. Here, the magnetic draw of the movie star is harnessed as a means of connecting to character, to personality, and to that constant shifting of identity that emblematizes both film and fashion.

Captured in New York City by director Jonathan Glazer, the still and motion images showcase Johansson as an actor, honing her art — repeating phrases with different feeling and meaning, she showcases the infinite self-transformation that define an actor’s skill. Abstracted, unreal, it is film at its most cinematic. Yet, as Johansson exits the studio, we then leap from screen to reality — albeit a reality fictionalized, idealized for us. In a quintessentially Prada dichotomy, the intimacy that the act of performing is able to generate contrasts with a panoramic normality of everyday life. Cinéma vérité — Johansson, seemingly undirected, as her true self.

The instrument of Johansson’s everyday is the Prada Galleria handbag, seen here as a tool of life rather than a product, a part of an everyday wardrobe. As with Johansson its persona can transform; as with acting, it is a symbol of excellence in craft. Here, the Prada Galleria is showcased, in motion, as a fundamental facet of a woman’s reality.