The Devil Wears Prada - discussion guide

Summary

The Devil Wears Prada is the story of Andrea ‘Andy’ Sachs (Anne Hathaway), and her journey to become a journalist. Hoping to work her way up in the industry, Andy gets a job at famous fashion magazine Runway as assistant to fearsome editor Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep). Andy knows nothing about fashion, and soon finds herself completely out of her depth. Miranda is a hard and demanding boss, with a fierce reputation of being almost impossible to please. Andy not only has to deal with Miranda, but also the condescending and unfriendly attitude of Miranda’s senior assistant Emily (Emily Blunt).

Despite how hard she is finding it, Andy knows that if she sticks with the job for a year she can have her pick of jobs in the magazine industry, and so she decides to continue with it. She decides to throw herself into her work with the same unquestioning degree of commitment as her colleagues, and gets a makeover from one of her co-workers Nigel (Stanley Tucci) so that she fits in more at the magazine. But her boyfriend Nate (Adrian Grenier) and her old friends notice a change in Andy. They now come second place to her number one priority of doing Miranda’s bidding and achieving the hugely difficult goals set for her. Whilst Andy tries to repair her relationship with Nate, and continue to keep up at work, she also has to grapple with her attraction to handsome writer Christian Thompson (Simon Baker) who has contacts which could further her writing career.

Background

The film is based on the novel of the same name by author Lauren Weisberger. The character of Miranda Priestly is said to be based on the powerful Vogue magazine editor Anna Wintour for whom Weisberger worked as an assistant. It has been widely reported that Wintour warned many major fashion designers that if they appeared in the film, they would not appear in Vogue again. Wintour’s spokesperson has denied this, although many fashion magazines have not mentioned or reviewed the book, and only the designer Valentino makes a cameo appearance in the film.

Director David Frankel is best known for directing television episodes of series such as Sex and the City, Band of Brothers, and Rome. He is also a writer and a producer. The Devil Wears Prada has earned great praise, particularly for Meryl Streep’s performance. Jennifer Frey in the Washington Post writes that, ‘Streep makes it work. Streep makes it fun. Best known for her dramatic brilliance, Streep has done strong comedic turns in the past, and this performance is a reminder of that, and then some,’ J. Hoberman at the Village Voice writes, ‘At once coolly indifferent and fanatically detail-obsessed, coiffed off-white hair emphasizing a hawk’s hooded gaze. Streep is the scariest, most nuanced, finest movie villaness since Tilda Swinton’s nazified White Witch.’ The film has become the highest grossing of both Streep and Hathaway’s careers.

For more information on The Devil Wears Prada, visit the official site: http://www.devilwearspradamovie.com/

Questions for Discussion

1. Have you read the novel the film is based on? Which do you prefer, the book or the film? Why?

2. What is it about Miranda that scares so many people? Why do people continue to work for her despite her abusive attitude? What is it that makes her so good at her job?

3. How is Andy different to the other employees of Runway? Why do the others see this as a negative thing? Why does Andy find it so difficult to deal with Miranda’s attitude and demands?

4. Why is Emily so unpleasant to Andy? Why is her job, and going to the Paris fashion week, so important to Emily? What are her priorities in life? How do you think working for Runway has affected her, and her worldview?

5. How does The Devil Wears Prada portray the fashion industry? Is it a positive or negative portrayal? How true do you think it is? Has the film changed your opinion of the fashion industry at all?

6. Why do you think that Andy decides to get a makeover? How does it change the way other people at work, especially Miranda, view her? What does this say about the superficial attitude of many people?

7. How does working at Runway affect Andy’s relationship with Nate, and with her friends? Are they right in thinking that she has changed negatively? Why does Andy put Miranda’s demands first in her life?

8. How does seeing Miranda upset about her upcoming divorce change Andy’s opinion of her? How did it affect your opinion of her? Why? Why does Miranda hide this side of herself?

9. What does the film say about how important appearance and image to people? How does this reflect the attitudes of many people in society today? Why do people see this as such a high priority?

10. Why is Nigel so pleased and relieved that he will be able to work away from Miranda when he gains a new job? How does Miranda make her employees, such as Nigel, feel so trapped in their work?

11. How does her time at Runway change Andy? Are they positive or negative changes? How does leaving Runway change her?

12. How has Miranda changed through her time with Andy as her assistant? What do you think might happen to her after the film ends?

13. What does the film say about people’s priorities and values? Does it portray the priorities of people such as Emily as a positive or negative thing? How do the priorities shown in the film compare with what the Bible sees as our highest priorities?

‘The Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.’ (Micah 6:8)

‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ (Luke 10:27)

Does this have any implications for your own priorities in life?

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