Iris

This splashy, stylish cinematic portrait of indomitable 93-year-old Manhattan fashionista Iris Apfel—the penultimate film from late documentarian Albert Maysles (his final film will be In Transit)—is somewhat reminiscent of his 1975 classic Grey Gardens, which profiled reclusive eccentrics related to Jacqueline Kennedy. Born Iris Barrel in 1921 in Astoria, Queens, Iris is the only child of Samuel Barrel, whose family owned a glass-and-mirror business, and his wife Sadye, who ran a fashion boutique. After studying art history, Iris worked for Women's Wear Daily, interior designer Elinor Johnston, and illustrator Robert Goodman. She married Carl Apfel in 1948 and the pair launched the textile firm Old World Weavers. Having no children, the couple globe-trotted, acquiring an eclectic collection of exotic souvenirs. Several years ago, Architectural Digest slyly described their luxurious Park Avenue apartment as looking “a little as if the Collyer brothers had moved in with Madame de Pompadour.” Iris was involved in the White House interior design restoration projects of nine presidents, from Truman to Clinton. Iris—who is famous for her lament, “There is so much sameness. I hate it!”— wears enormous owl glasses, costume jewelry necklaces, and a multitude of glittering bracelets and clothing adorned with feathers, prints, and bright colors (she says that “it's better to be happy than well-dressed”). Dispensing wit, charm, and wisdom, elderly Iris advocates old-fashioned values and a healthy work ethic: “If you're lucky enough to do something you love, everything else follows.” Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include an interview with subject Iris Apfel (13 min.), deleted scenes (4 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an engaging biographical profile.] (S. Granger)