Opening weekend of the San Francisco International Film Festival featured a wide range of documentaries, from the delightful and impressive Iris to the educational if somewhat disappointing Best of Enemies. Here’s a look at these two films.
Iris ****
Master documentarian Albert Maysle’s final film is an introduction to the lively, fashionable, and fabulous 93-year-old New York style icon, Iris Apfel. Mixing haute couture, trends from around the world, and cheaper items, coupled with her trademark gaudy jewelery, Iris’s style is unconventional but expresses her joie de vivre. We get an inside look at her collection, her thought process, her wit, and her sweet relationship with her husband of fifty plus years. Full of humour and warmth, the film is a delight, and sure to pique your interest in more audacious outfits.
Now streaming on Netflix.
Best of Enemies ***
In 1968, during the Democratic and Republication Conventions, ABC decided to host a series of ideological debates between Democrat Gore Vidal and Republican William F. Buckley. It was out of necessity — as the number three network, they couldn’t afford to cover the conventions on the ground — but its enormous success ended up revolutionizing the political discourse on television, replacing hard news with pundit debates. Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon’s documentary gives us a fascinating glimpse into these famous debates and their historical context, but there’s not enough analysis and insight for a feature length film.
Now streaming on Netflix.
