Plot
A documentary about fashion icon Iris Apfel from legendary documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles.
Release Year: 2014
Rating: 5.9/10 (63 voted)
Critic's Score: 82/100
Director: Albert Maysles
Stars: Iris Apfel
Storyline
IRIS pairs the 87-year-old Maysles with Iris Apfel, the quick-witted, flamboyantly dressed 93-year-old style maven who has had an outsized presence on the New York fashion scene for decades. More than a fashion film, the documentary is a story about creativity and how, even at Iris' advanced age, a soaring free spirit continues to inspire. IRIS portrays a singular woman whose enthusiasm for fashion, art and people are life's sustenance and reminds us that dressing, and indeed life, is nothing but an experiment. Despite the abundance of glamour in her current life, she continues to embrace the values and work ethic established during a middle-class Queens upbringing during the Great Depression. I feel lucky to be working. If you're lucky enough to do something you love, everything else follows.
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.
Plot
True story of the lifelong romance between novelist Iris Murdoch and her husband John Bayley, from their student days through her battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Release Year: 2001
Rating: 7.1/10 (9,892 voted)
Critic's Score: 76/100
Director:
Richard Eyre
Stars: Judi Dench, Jim Broadbent, Kate Winslet
Storyline Iris, based on the life of revered British writer and philosopher Iris Murdoch, is a story of unlikely yet enduring love. As a young academic, teaching philosophy at Oxford, Murdoch meets and eventually falls in love with fellow professor John Bayley, a man whose awkwardness seems in stark opposition to the spirited self-confidence of his future wife. The story unfolds as snippets of time, seen through Bayley's eyes. He recalls their first encounter over 40 years ago, activities they enjoyed doing together, and Iris' charismatic and individualistic personality. These images portray Murdoch as a vibrant young woman with great intellect and are contrasted with the novelist's later life, after the effects of Alzheimer's disease have ravaged her. Murdoch's great mind deteriorates until she is reduced to a mere vestige of her former self, unable to perform simple tasks and completely reliant on her at times frustrated yet devoted husband.
Writers: John Bayley, Richard Eyre
Cast: Kate Winslet
-
Young Iris Murdoch
Hugh Bonneville
-
Young John Bayley
Judi Dench
-
Iris Murdoch
Jim Broadbent
-
John Bayley
Eleanor Bron
-
Principal
Angela Morant
-
Hostess
Penelope Wilton
-
Janet Stone
Siobhan Hayes
-
Check-Out Girl
Juliet Aubrey
-
Young Janet Stone
Joan Bakewell
-
BBC Presenter
Nancy Carroll
-
BBC PA
Kris Marshall
-
Dr. Gudgeon
Tom Mannion
-
Neurologist
Derek Hutchinson
-
Postman
Samuel West
-
Young Maurice
(as Sam West)
Taglines:
Her greatest talent was for life
Release Date: 18 January 2002
Filming Locations: Magpie Lane, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK
Box Office Details
Budget: $5,500,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $23,144
(USA)
(16 December 2001)
(2 Screens)
Gross: $5,580,479
(USA)
(12 May 2002)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
Only the second film (after
Titanic) to have two actors nominated for an Academy Award for playing the same role in the same movie. In both films Kate Winslet played the younger version in the dual-nominee role.
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible:
When Iris and John go to visit Maurice Charlton, a reflection of the camera lighting is seen on the inside of the front door.
Quotes: Iris Murdoch:
Every human soul has seen, perhaps before their birth pure forms such as justice, temperance, beauty and all the great moral qualities which we hold in honour. We are moved towards what is good by the faint memory of these forms simple and calm and blessed which we saw once in a pure, clear light being pure ourselves.
User Review
A Life in Love
Rating: 10/10
This film succeeds where the overrated "A Beautiful Mind" fell short. It
puts its subject's life into perspective and gives a sense of her worldview
and, needs, and desires--as opposed to just focusing on the illness. I
think it is also more effective in its use of different actors to portray
the main characters at different ages, rather than using distracting age
makeup, like in ABM. I came away from this with a profound admiration for
Iris Murdock, whereas I felt like I hardly got to know John Nash at
all.
But enough with the comparisons. This film stands well on its own as a
tribute to the companionship shared by Iris and her husband John Bayley
throughout their long, complex, relationship. Broadbent deserved that
Academy Award, although I would say he plays more of a lead character than
supporting. Seeing Iris through Bayley's loving eyes is what makes the film
an enriching experience. He is the one who must adapt to her unconventional
lifestyle, and their journey together is a rewarding one.
One person who commented stated that this was "another disease movie."
Funny how you never hear a complaints about "another gangster movie" or
"another romantic comedy" or "another suspense thriller." SO WHAT? First
of all, it is not a disease movie, it is at its heart a romance, and a
"meaning of life" film, much moreso than a film about Alzheimer's disease.
Secondly, the disease is the device used to illustrate their level of
understanding and commitment to each other. And finally, I cannot imagine
telling Murdock's story WITHOUT giving the disease its proper weight in the
course of the film.
The scenes when the characters are younger are blended seamlessly with the
latter day scenes. Kate Winslet and Hugh Bonneville (uncannily resembling a
young Broadbent) are very true to their older counterparts' personalities,
and add yet another dimension to film. All in all, this is a production of
which director Richard Eyre and cast (and Bayley, who wrote the book on
which the film is based) should be extremely proud. It should have been
seen by more people in 2001. Grade: A
0