The Mysterious Mr Lagerfeld review – even his cat's agent is interviewed

The Mysterious Mr. Lagerfeld is a mischievous film that pulls off the careful trick of being respectful to its subject, while raising eyebrows at some of its eccentricities. When he died in 2019, aged 85, fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld was hailed as the last of the old guard, and for many his passing marked the end of an era. This feature documentary, directed by Michael Waldman of Inside Dior, aims to demystify the man behind these famous sunglasses. He does this with the help of those around him, many of whom speak publicly about their boss, friend, family member and colleague for the first time here on camera.

At first it is billed as a podcast mystery. Lagerfeld died a wealthy man, and rumors continue to swirl about his will, and who, or what, benefits from it. Where are his millions? Who did he name as heirs? Could it really be true that he left most of his fortune to his cat, Choupette?

This would be enough material for most filmmakers, but although it This is an investigation into Lagerfeld's business finances, to a point it really shines as the portrait of a real individual. It promises "one-time access" to the inner circle and it delivers, with a full list of interviewees sharing fantastic stories about their friend - in some cases, delightfully. There's Lagerfeld's bodyguard, Sebastien; his lawyer, Céline, one of the true stars of the film, who seems very amused by just about anything she is asked to discuss; the two male models he took under his wing in his later years, Baptiste and Brad; and even Choupette's agent, Lucas, and nanny and current legal guardian, Françoise. spacefinder-type= "model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement" class=" dcr-173mewl">

Naturally, Choupette is popular. Lagerfeld adored her, and we get the full story of how she became such a big part of his life. He was asked to take care of her for two weeks, he fell in love and simply refused to return her. Towards the end of the film, there is a delicate exploration of why he was able to give such affection to a pet, above, it seems, some of his human relationships. Waldman, sometimes heard asking questions off-camera, checks whether Choupette authorizes the filming. She does, we are told. "She loves the lens."

The film strikes a solid balance between flattering and candid. It tells the story of Lagerfeld's life and his rapid rise to success, passing through his famous rivalry with Yves Saint Laurent, and his long company with Jacques de Bascher, who died of AIDS in 1989, and with whom the two creators were involved. He documents his excesses and generosity towards those who were "in" favor, and his ruthlessness towards those who were "excluded". An ex-friend talks about his "divorce" and r...