Kris Van Assche’s work for Dior Homme can be debated for days and called many things — simple, clean, classic, minimalist — but boring it is not. While some have derided Assche for not “transforming” the label like they had hoped, others have praised him for his subtle deconstructionist touches and elegant silhouettes that have made Dior Homme home to more than just the skinny suit. Nowhere is Van Assche’s aesthetic more prominent than in this new short film, commissioned to showcase his fall 2010 collection.

Styled by Robbie Spencer and directed by photographer Sharif Hamza, the film is stark but not bleak. Shot in a bleach-white hallway and set to the piano strains of Sisters of Mercy’s “Temple of Love,” the film focuses not on fancy effects nor a complicated plot, but rather on the beautiful shapes and images created by the clothing. It’s haunting and moody and sparse and undeniably Dior. And it’s proof that Van Assche has got the right look, the right feel and the right touch to lead the label for many collections to come. Check out the video for “The White Room” below:

- TC