Winter drags on sometimes and we all start to get a little housebound and fretful. Summer is about to arrive and trust me it will continue until April next year or longer so be patient.
Meantime I have been to a couple of movies to cheer ones soul. Iris is a documentary, beautifully photographed showing us the real Iris Apfel. the second movie is about a subject many of us don’t want to face..but we know it is a question waiting for many of us, check out “Last Cab to Darwin”.
“You can’t learn style. I think it’s in you DNA,”
IRIS
Iris was born Iris Barrel in Astoria Queens in New York . She studied art history at New York University and attended art school in Wisconsin. As a young woman, Apfel worked for Women’s Wear Daily and for interior designer Elinor Johnson. She also was an assistant to illustrator Robert Goodman.
At 93, Iris Apfel is having the time of her life. Having made her name as an interior designer (she worked with the wives of nine presidents on the White House), she’s in demand as a model and her legions of fans love her ‘unsugared truths’.
In 1948, she married Carl Apfel. Iris was the only child of Samuel Barrel, whose family owned a glass-and-mirror business, and his Russian-born wife, Sadye, who owned a fashion boutique. Through their business, the couple began traveling all over the world where she began buying pieces of non-Western, clothing.. These clothes were the ones she started wearing to the high-society parties of their clients. From 1950 to 1992, Iris Apfel took part in several design restoration projects, including work at the White House for nine presidents: Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Reagan, Nixon, Ford, Carter & Clinton.
Apfel consults and lectures about style and other fashion topics. In 2013, she was listed as one of the fifty Best-dressed over 50s by The Guardian.
Iris’s husband of 67 years, Carl died in August 2015, just three days shy of his 101st birthday.
I loved her quotes…here are two of the best.
Plastic surgery
“Unless you have a nose like Pinocchio or have been in a fire, why mess… You might come out worse. I’ve seen few people that have come out like a Picasso.”
Beauty
“I’m not a pretty person. I don’t like pretty, so I don’t feel badly. Most of the world is not with me but I don’t care.”
Click on this link to see the movie trailer. I promise you it is funny, witty and poignant. IRIS is possibly a ‘chick’ flick. A chick flick with depth I might add. I loved the individuality of IRIS and her eccentricity. I can never understand why women want to look like their friends, many dress in a uniform almost and it is often black. Add some colour to your life and see the world smile with you. Iris was or is an individual with real style; I wish I had the courage and flair!
N.B. The current header photograph shows a man who loves colour – taken by me in Varanasi, India.
My second movie is a far more serious subject. Euthanasia.
Taking advantage of the controversial Northern Territory voluntary euthanasia law, Max decides to end his own life with dignity. His request under the law is in bitter dispute but Max sells up everything he owned, says goodbye to his neighbour and good friend Polly, and drives the great distance from Broken Hill to Darwin where taking his own life would be legal. The film was given the go ahead by Screen Australia in October 2013 as one of six films to share in $5.4 million government funding.
Max is played by Michael Caton (born in Queensland 21 July 1943) he is an Australian television, film and stage actor, and television host, best known for playing Uncle Harry in the Australian television series, The Sullivan’s, playing Darryl Kerrigan from 1997’s low-budget hit film The Castle,and playing Ted Taylor in the popular Packed to the Rafters. He is married to Helen Esakoff. Caton has been inducted into the Australian Film Walk of Fame in honour of his work in Australia’s cinema and television industries.
Rotten Tomatoes who are my favourite film reviewers said ” Taking on the controversial issue of euthanasia with a “she’ll be right mate” attitude, whatever conviction Last Cab to Darwin lacks is replaced with a down to earth charm personified in Michael Caton’s lead performance.”
Despite the seriousness of the subject matter this film has many humourous moments, sweet, sad and funny. I think this is a great movie for men and women to enjoy, great acting, great scenery. The excuse to have that conversation about euthanasia.
KIWIGRAN - my escapades, my images, my thoughts :) 