Madonna lures an eclectic cast of actors, DJs, footballers and models – from Benedict Cumberbatch to Cole Palmer – into a hedonistic scene for her new short film.
The pop icon shared Confessions II – The Film on Monday 8 June, in which six songs from her upcoming album form the soundtrack to a wild and debaucherous fever dream: “I Feel So Free”, “Good for the Soul”, “One Step Away”, “Bring Your Love”, “Danceteria” and “Read My Lips”.
In one scene, Madonna struts through a club bathroom where Chelsea football pros Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro are standing together at the urinals, before things get steamy in the cubicles with some male dancers... as Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie gawps in astonishment.
Meanwhile, Richard E Grant giggles from another cubicle while helping a fellow reveller with her makeup, while supermodel Kate Moss stares herself down in the mirror before posing with Madonna.
Back in the club, Sabrina Carpenter crawls along the dancefloor while her collaboration “Bring Your Love”, while Colombian artist Feid takes centre stage to deliver his Spanish-language verse on “Read My Lips”.
Presented by Dolce and Gabbana and directed by David Toro and Solomon Chase, collectively known as TORSO, the film was shot between New York, Los Angeles and London.
It makes a number of references to Madonna’s past eras, with actor Julia Garner transforming into the Queen of Pop from her “Vogue” video (Garner is famously Madonna’s top choice to play her in a biopic).
There are further nods to Madonna’s 1985 film, Desperately Seeking Susan, along with videos for hits such as “Hung Up”, “Deeper and Deeper” and “Open Your Heart”.
Madonna’s daughter Lourdes also makes an appearance alongside DJ Honey Dijon, actor and TV personality Debi Mazar – a longtime friend of Madonna’s and known for her roles in Goodfellas, Batman Forever and Entourage – and British DJ and rapper Shygirl.
The film closes with a shot of Lourdes “Lola” Leon walking into a BDSM-style scene where latex-clad figures watch Madonna on a TV screen, before Leon demands: “Cut, bitch.”
Madonna’s longtime manager Guy Oseary serves as executive producer alongside Ernest Bouvier and Jules de Chateleux, while Sara Zambreno and Mathilde Hamart are credited as producers.
Stuart Price directed the project, having produced Madonna’s 2005 album Confessions on a Dance Floor along with the upcoming sequel.
The full list of star appearances is as follows:
ARCA
Archie Madekwe
Benedict Cumberbatch
Cole Palmer
Debi Mazar
Feid
Gwendoline Christie
Honey Dijon
Joao Pedro
Julia Garner
Kate Moss
Odessa A’Zion
Richard E Grant
Sabrina Carpenter
Shygirl
Lourdes Leon
Confessions II – The Film premiered during the Tribeca Film Festival last week, where it received multiple standing ovations.
Madonna has been going above and beyond to promote Confessions II, with a series of surprise appearances and playbacks in recent months.
On Thursday 4 June, she delivered a surprise performance at Times Square in New York to kick off Pride celebrations, with flashing rainbow lights and screens depicting LGBT+ trailblazers such as artist Keith Haring, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe and activist Marsha P Johnson.
Madonna has described Confessions II as a “love letter to dance music and to all the spaces and communities that create it or enjoy it.”
She continued: “The dance floor isn’t about a specific space or building, it’s wherever we gather to dance, celebrate and connect. Thank you for being a part of this moment and for supporting my music. See you on the Dance Floor.”
Confessions II is scheduled for release on 3 July.
