ksf-2 IRIS –The story of clothing collector Iris Apfel. Be yourself. Do your own thing. With her trademark HUGE black, round glasses, Iris works her way through stores, shows, and her own closet. The only child of a Jewish couple from NYC, she studied art history, ran her own textile company, and even did several white-house make-overs. She sure does like big, giant bangles, necklaces! it's amazing she can stand up with all those heavy necklaces that she wears through most of the film. It's kind of fun watching her toddle along, bartering hardcore with shop-keepers. Iris is TOTALLY photogenic, and loves to talk, so it must have been a pretty easy project to do. She's a collector (Hoarder ?) and has had her own exhibits of her collections of clothes and jewelry. Directed by Albert Maysles, who did TONS of documentaries. He passed away March of 2015, and I see they are still editing his latest two works to release at some point. I see there is no "written by" credit on this one, so Iris must have done most of the gabbing herself. Quite a fun film to watch. Very upbeat. Catch it on netflix. It's one big long run-on sentence, but it's still fun to watch. Kind of makes one wonder what one has accomplished in one's own life. Inspiring.

Larry Silverstein This exceptional documentary, directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Albert Maysles (who passed away this year at the age of 88), is filled with wit and humor. It focuses on the life and career of Iris Apfel, fashion icon and interior designer, who has been involved in restorations in the White House, the Senate building, and Stephen Foster's My Old Kentucky Home, among many others. She's also had her clothes and accessories exhibited in many museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Norton Gallery.Apfel, who was 90-years-old at the time of the filming, by her own admission would rather find a $4 accessory item at a flea market or small shop rather than go to an expensive high couture establishment, as she loves the chase for interesting items and always uses her gut instincts for her selections.What struck me as much as her amazing collection of unique items over the years was her striking personality and charisma. Although she admits to some aging at the age of 90, she often displays a wonderful sense of humor, expresses her most interesting philosophies of life, and always seems to be at ease no matter what the situation. Unfortunately, her husband of some 66+ years Carl, who played a key role in the movie, passed away early this month just a few days shy of his 101st birthday.All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this film highlighted by Apfel's humor and charismatic personality, and this documentary is one of the best I've seen in a while.

i_am_danish I was very much looking forward to the Iris documentary. I have much enjoyed films such as The September Issue, Lagerfeld Confidential, Mademoiselle C and the rest of them. Somehow fashion films often turn into very soulful portraits of the very creative. Iris is probably comparable to the Diana Vreeland docu: The Eye Has to Travel but where Diana has a profound presence sadly Iris Apfel does not. It is very peculiar watching a documentary about a 90-year-old who conveys no depth. Yes, Iris and her husband seem like "very nice people", but for people of a certain to come across merely as flat characters and not fully developed is actually quite a feat. Even the most one-dimensional develop some sort of depth and persona with age - not here. It's ALL about the surface of things. Nothing more. And this is where "Iris" falls flat on its face, it lacks everything so abundant in Iris Apfel's dress sense: layers, the rich tapestry of the human condition and interest. There is nothing to cling onto in "Iris" - no substance behind the quirky glasses, just an empty human shell.

rannynm Iris is a great documentary, particularly if you have a passion for fashion. Iris Apfel is a 94-year-old woman who embraces her unique eye for fashion and style. She takes the simplest things from shops and stores all over town and dresses them up in a variety of ways. She accessorizes her clothing by accenting them with very large and unique pieces of jewelry. Large pearl necklaces with big, bright colorful bracelets are only a few items that Iris uses. She believes each outfit needs to have color and sometimes lots of it. A lot of designers and fashion icons love her style and creativity. The message of this documentary, produced by veteran documentarian Albert Maysles, is "success is a sacrifice." Iris talks about how she always wanted to have kids, travel and have a successful career. She realized that she could not have it all and be successful. She did not want her kids to be raised by someone else. So, she chose to purse her career and travel the world with her husband, Carl Apfel. Although Iris did not have kids as she once hoped, she still feels successful and that her life has made a positive impact in the fashion industry. Iris is very witty, funny and inspirational. Even in her 90s, she continues to educate young aspiring fashion designers. She believes it will be a lost art if people do not learn the history of fashion and its origin. The film Iris is a wonderful documentary. It is perfect for girls and boys ages 13 to 18-years-old who aspire to learn more about the fashion industry. Even if you are not in the industry and want to watch a good film about a wise woman who continues to inspire others, this film is a perfect selection. Iris will be released in select theaters April 29, 2015. I give this movie 4 out of 5 shining stars.Reviewed by Kendyl P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. For more reviews by youth, go to kidsfirst dot org.