The Mysterious Mr. Lagerfeld

Rich people can live as they like. If you've made your money in at least a semi-meritocratic fashion, you can live with acclaim. Karl Lagerfeld was a fashion designer whose life was decidedly unusual, and this documentary gives us some insight into it. But mainly it tells the story of an odd individual who was free to do whatever he wanted, someone whose choices were consequence-free. He doesn't come across as the worst form of monster; but he does come across as someone rather less interesting than he might superficially seem. This documentary, by its very existence, attempts to add to the hagiography; but fundamentally, there's simply not much to reveal.

There really wasn't much new info in this voyeuristic piece of journalism that wasn't already known about Karl Lagerfeld - at least not enough to warrant a 90 minute film. His entourage of former friends and current employees at the time of his death didn't have a lot to say. The brief overview of Karl's childhood and early career, his rivalry with Yves St. Laurent, and his odd, sexless love life has already been written about ad nauseam. There was no investigation of his relationship with Chanel (they over-ruled his final request for a private funeral), and few interviews or private gossip spilled from former friends who had been shut out.

Karl had difficulty trusting people; he rewarded devotion with generous gifts and abruptly cut off anyone he perceived as disloyal. He was talented and driven, but also vain, privileged, secretive, and opinionated. In the end, he could really only share his unguarded love with a cat he called Choupette. The only mystery remaining is exactly when his personal fortune will be divided amongst the cat and a handful of heirs.