Content overview: “Karl Review: Nick Hooker’s Documentary on Fashion Icon Karl Lagerfeld, Based on William Mi”. The Guardian Lifestyle Oct 5, 2026 • 8:00 AM 1 views Karl Lagerfeld, the legendary creative director of Chanel, Fendi, and his own label, was a fascinating paradox. He was known for his eccentric persona—white ponytail, black gloves, and dark sunglasses—and his extravagant fashion shows, like the 2014 Chanel supermarket catwalk. Yet beneath the surface, Lagerfeld was a multilingual workaholic who worked into his 80s.
The new documentary "Karl," directed by Nick Hooker and based on William Middleton's biography "Paradise Now," attempts to uncover the real man behind the image. Hooker gained access to Lagerfeld's inner circle and uses extensive archive footage, but the film ultimately shows how Lagerfeld carefully maintained his constructed persona. In a clip, Lagerfeld himself admits that even those closest to him never truly knew him. The full version stays on the original page, which this listing opens directly.