Lagerfeld Confidential is an up-close look at fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld. In this documentary, French filmmaker Rodolphe Marconi manages to spend exclusive time (3 years) with one of the most successful and influential fashion designers of the late 20th century.
In Lagerfeld Confidential, Marconi is not afraid to ask Lagerfeld questions that other filmmakers might have stayed away from, such as how Lagerfeld treats his friendships and relationships. When there is an issue or problem, the relationship is over. “Forgiveness isn’t something I’m preoccupied with”. Lagerfeld also states, “Turning the other cheek is not my trip. The curtain falls, an iron curtain.”
Early in the documentary, Lagerfeld states that he enjoys being alone, and can’t be around people all the time; he needs time for himself. Throughout the documentary, we see exactly that. While he is definitely a famous fashion icon, with many colleagues, employees, models, celebrities and more surrounding him, he is a very solitary person who seems to relish being alone.
It would have been nice if Lagerfeld Confidential might have shared more details about the events taking place, people being filmed (appearances by Nicole Kidman and Princess Caroline of Monaco), and locations being visited. But perhaps the intention was to leave it mysterious, much like Lagerfeld’s personal life itself.
Lagerfeld Confidential is an interesting look at a successful fashion icon in his environment. But ultimately we are seeing the Lagerfeld that he wants people to see, with really only a few glimpses behind Lagerfeld’s dark glasses.
IMDB | Wiki Karl Lagerfeld
NY Times Interview with the director Marconi | NY Times Review of documentary
trailer
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