IRIS (2014)
-Watched at the SIE Film Center in Denver-
IRIS is a portrait of legendary avante-garde fashion icon Iris Apfel, directed by the equally legendary filmmaker Albert Maysles (Grey Gardens, Gimme Shelter). Iris is 93 years old and has more spunk than any Grandma you’ve ever met. She’s a unique woman in the truest sense. Her spirit is pure, and she legitimately sees things differently than others.
Her energy and spirit are whole-heartedly inspiring. If watching this documentary doesn’t make you wanna do jumping jacks and follow those dreams of yours, then you’re a hopeless lump on a log. As Iris would say, “Whatever.” After exiting the theatre, I accidentally interrupted three ladies taking “fashion photos” on their cellphones. “Sorry. We couldn’t help it, we were so inspired.” “I was watching the same film as you, I understand” I assured them.
One of my favorite scenes is Iris telling the cameraman to help themselves to to anything they want as she starts to walk out of the room. Instead of shutting off the camera, they continue to follow her through her hallways. She acknowledges them following her, but doesn’t say or do anything about it. This intimate moment was telling of her social openness and carefree attitude. It also felt like a personal acknowledgement on her part that she knows she’s a fascinating specimen, but not in a pretentious way. She never flaunts her knowledge or shows off. She simply shares herself and her talents with anyone who’s interested.
Iris reminded me a lot of Bill Cunningham, who has a similar documentary, Bill Cunningham New York. They are both elderly New York eccentrics in the fashion world. Both have a vivaciousness about them, with uniquely quirky insights on the often-ridged high fashion industry. In the film, Bill attended her husband’s birthday party and I wondered if he actually talked to and socialized with anyone there. In his documentary, we learn that while he’s very publicly visible, he is a shut-in when it comes to personal socialization. In the scene, we see him taking photos of the party. Is that all he did? Probably. This made me a little sad to think about, and I wondered how two people who are so similar could be experiencing two extremes of introversion and extroversion. We also see them together at a big event where she tells him “Listen, I want to get lunch [with you]” and he shoos her away back to the red carpet. Oh Bill, please just let Iris be your real friend! You would make a brilliant pair of BFFs!
I absolutely adored this film. Her wit and enthusiasm was lovable and so fun to experience. She declared that she can’t be friends with anyone who wasn’t curious and didn’t have a sense of humor. My brain did a quick scroll of my friends to make sure they all make the cut. (They do.) So please, go hang out with your curious, funny friends and watch this movie together!