As a tribute to the legendary documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles, DOXA is proud to present his final film, Iris, as our closing night film. Instantly identifiable by her gargantuan glasses and gobs of necklaces, bracelets, and accessories, Iris Apfel, like Maysles himself, is a true American original. She came to fame first as an interior designer and founder of Old World Weavers, a company devoted to reproducing fabric designs from the 17th through to the 19th century. But it was a 2005 MoMa exhibit that celebrated her personal style which vaulted her to international fame. Or, as she bluntly puts it, transformed her into an “Octogenarian starlet.” In an industry that thrives on pretense, air kisses, and fakery (facelifts and Botox), iris is unafraid to speak the truth. At age 94, she has the sass, verve, and energy of people half a century younger. As she bickers with Albert Maysles, the film follows along in her regal wake, through flea markets, thrift stores, and glittering New York parties. Keep your eyes peeled for cameos from a variety of famous faces, including Kanye West, and New York Times photog Bill Cunningham (the subject of his own documentary). But the star of the show is, without a doubt, this tiny indefatigable woman, trailing jewelry, scarves, and her 100-year old husband, Carl. A true blue individual, both in art and life, Iris is a potent reminder that sometimes the most deeply revolutionary thing you can do is simply be yourself. Mr. Maysles would no doubt agree.

– DW

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