This series is loosely inspired by the life of Karl Lagerfeld.
Some of the characters, their intimate and professional relationships,
their actions and statements, places, incidents and events,
as well as artistic creations
have been invented or altered by the authors for dramatic purposes.
In the case of such invention or alteration,
any similarity to the actual character or history of any person
is entirely for dramatic purposes
and is not intended to reflect an actual character or their history.
SPRING 1978
Karl Lagerfeld, hello.
One could say that you're now the star of international fashion.
Star? I don't know, but it's true
I've been sleeping in planes more often than my own bed lately.
Nice bag, huh?
-Was that one of yours? -Certo.
-Here? -Yes.
I'm nothing but a streetwalker.
I am. And it's nearly impossible
to be so busy, always promoting one's product.
How long have you been on this worldwide promotional tour?
It was supposed to be ten days. Now it's been three weeks.
All the big cities want to have their Chloé shop.
Yesterday, bagels in New York. Today, pasticcino in Rome.
The real cure for jet lag, hmm?
Hmm.
So will that be Miss Picasso's wedding dress?
Yes, the evening one.
It's theatrical.
Yeah, well, I'm just getting started.
This isn't a wedding dress.
It's a manifesto.
Perfect.
Beautiful.
Do you know what Saint Laurent's doing for his day dress?
I'm not worried.
Oh.
-We'll be late. Time to go. -I'll let you go ahead.
I'll stay for a bit.
But what about the Fendis?
I need to run an errand. They can wait.
Fine. I'll see you over there.
Hmm.
And you never forget that fashion needs to sell
above anything else.
Of course. I make dresses, not poetry.
The main problem is not that you might run out of ideas,
but that you have to be stopped.
No. Uh, back when I was working on haute couture,
I turned up 50 dresses twice a year, it wasn't enough for me.
I was bored to death.
I need to work.
Drawing is like breathing to me.
I have no responsibility but my work.
And I like to do only that.
You're here.
Between three flights and two appointments.
You mentioned this was your canteen.
-So I took a chance. -Of course.
Do you know Xavier de Castella? He's with Kenzo.
-Ah, yes, of course. -Hello, Karl.
And here's Gianni. He's our friend for the day.
Can't understand him because he only speaks Italian,
but he's pretty, so there you go.
Can we talk a bit?
Sure.
How's it going with Xavier?
He's like a brother.
I'm just asking how the trip has been.
Good.
And you?
Impromptu visits are surprising.
YOU ARE INVITED TO THE WEDDING OF PALOMA AND RAFAEL
A Picasso wedding invite. Wow.
Well, I didn't give her a choice.
The reception is at my place.
And I want you there.
Will Pierre and Yves be there?
They're at the head table with us, yes.
I'll make them feast on my success as an entrée, main and dessert.
I hope they can digest it.
I'm good.
I'm keeping my promises.
I'm not asking you to stop traveling, or to give up your friends.
We're good, aren't we, Karl?
We're at the right distance. Not too far or close.
This isn't a step back.
This is revenge. For us.
I have no success to feed Pierre and Yves, Karl.
And what have I achieved
if I keep nothing around me?
If you're not there, then Pierre and Yves have won.
I'll go one day.
She won't be getting married every month. Paloma.
I'm still here for you, okay?
Just like you were there for me through the death of my father.
Don't ask me to go back into your shadow, Karl.
The day I finally come back to the crab basket,
I want it to be after I've done something I'm proud of,
so when I'm still with you, I can exist on my own.
So when is that?
Karl. You're number one in the U.S., rich as Croesus.
You don't need me.
So you're not in my shadow, but you'll take my money?
Do you want it back?
Because Xavier is filthy rich.
No.
I have to go anyway.
No, I don't mind this one.
-Do you know where he is? -Oh, he's just a little late, yes.
Oh! There he is...
Excuse me.
- I was unexpectedly delayed. - Nothing important?
No, the only important thing is work.
Is Rosemarie here?
Uh, she went to answer a call from someone trying to reach you in Paris.
All right. The campaign for the collection.
Who do we want as the photographer?
Rosemarie told us that you were going to design a wedding gown for Paloma Picasso.
Mmm-hmm.
In competition with Yves Saint Laurent.
Never compare, never compete, hmm?
Yes, but we both know your dress will be better.
The whole world will be watching.
Not the whole world, unfortunately.
I really like this one.
Ah.
I think we need to go back to Paris.
Paris?
Thank you all. This means a lot.
How is Madame?
For right now, she's been placed in a coma
so that her body can get enough rest and we'll wake her up tomorrow.
If it goes well, then we'll know the extent of the damage.
The house will be ready, Monsieur.
All right. We all have our things to do.
Let's get to work. Merci.
-Uh, Monika. -Yes, Monsieur?
I know that every second counts when it comes to a stroke.
If she pulls through without too many side effects, it'll be thanks to you.
We're never truly prepared.
No.
Monsieur, you have Mademoiselle Picasso and her fiancé waiting for you.
They're here for the wedding preparations.
- Ah! - Look at you, you're absolutely glowing.
I thought you'd forgotten about us.
Absolutely.
So much so that...
-Rafael... -Si.
One, two, three.
I had my assistant throw this together.
You see the little cards?
Give me the guest list when it's ready, and we'll place them.
The list?
Look, that's us.
Mmm-hmm. Loulou and Alexandre, perfect.
I wanted them to meet.
Family there. And Mother...
Let us know if Jacques is coming.
What about this?
Hello?
What?
Scuzi, scuzi, uh, I don't understand.
Who's calling me?
Bene. Italiano? English?
Uh, English.
Someone got you something to drink?
-Coffee? -Coffee, yeah.
-It's good. -Great. Carla Fendi. Sister number four.
Jacques.
Thank you for coming all this way.
Are you enjoying Rome?
Yes.
So...
We are about to start the ad campaign to launch our Ready-to-wear clothing line.
Oh.
You are familiar with the brand?
Somewhat, yeah.
We want to update our image. Something more modern, more unexpected.
Mmm.
We are looking for a new photographer, someone with a fresh pair of eyes.
Young, but in line with the Fendi tradition, of course.
Okay.
And you are asking me if I know a photographer or...
No.
Karl called me last night and he suggested you.
Okay, me?
He thinks you're the perfect person to reinvent the image of Fendi.
- Okay. - His words.
I mean, I know nothing of photography, so it's, uh...
That's what I understand.
So...
Karl has been our stylist for more than ten years.
Hmm.
And Fendi wouldn't be where it is without him.
So, there is not much I can deny him.
It's the wedding of the century. It has to make an impression.
But it doesn't need to be pretty.
It's not a Saint Laurent.
I want the shoulders puffier and the hips, too.
Do you like the waist?
More tight, more everything.
I don't want something bourgeois. I want it to stand out.
Monsieur, there's a telephone call for you.
Hello?
Did you ask Carla Fendi to hire me?
But... Why are you taking that tone?
Who do you think you are, Karl?
- I'm offering you a job. - No. No, no, no, no.
You're setting me up for a job that everyone knows I'm not qualified for.
Starting with your poor boss
who you're forcing to hire me against her will.
I am not your puppet
that you can make do whatever you want, okay?
I don't need you and I don't need a job.
I write. That's it.
I write.
You honestly believe I don't care about the launch of a line at Fendi?
I, I... I'm taking a risk for you.
I'm offering you this job because I think you can do it.
Yes, but I'm not a photographer, Karl!
All we ask of you is to have an idea,
and you've got plenty of ideas.
What you need is to finally finish a thing you began.
It'll make you proud.
So accept it.
Come to Paris with your head held high for the wedding.
For me.
I need you.
Does that look better?
Hmm. Yes.
Lovely evening, no? Hmm?
Shall we fly now?
Okay, it's done. You told Karl no. Voilà.
-Voilà! -Voilà!
Voilà!
If you worked, what would you do?
-You know I'm an architect. -No.
You just designed the house you bought.
Of course, who else is living in it?
Why? What would you do if you didn't have Karl to support you?
I don't know.
Sorry. Excuse me, sir.
Sorry to disturb you, but Monsieur de Bascher is insisting.
The telephone, sir.
Hello?
There would be a girl, a pretty American
who makes her parents think she's going to a spa in Baden-Baden.
But she's in Rome.
So, she walks around in Fendi clothes.
What are you on about?
The Fendi campaign.
I can't take pictures, but I can make a movie for you.
It'll be beautiful.
Every image, a tableau.
All the spots of Rome that I love.
So you don't want to photograph. You're saying you'd rather direct?
To write and direct.
Eh, Jacques. Be reasonable.
What you're asking for is a whole team.
It's a lot, a lot of work with a real budget.
That's my offer to you, Karl.
It's not a game.
It's a contract that binds you to the Fendis.
Yes or no?
Fifteen minutes.
Five.
Fifteen.
If it's good, I'll go to the wedding.
Okay.
You'll do her hair every day.
She won't want to be unkempt, even if no one's here.
Of course, Monsieur.
We'll take you back if it doesn't work out here.
Whether that's Paris or we'll have to take you back to the hospital.
We'll do what we have to.
And if there's a problem, you'll let us know, hmm?
I'll visit as often as I can.
Hmm.
Get to work.
Show all of them.
How am I supposed to be myself if I don't have you?
Who wants to be oneself?
I'm sad...
Don't... Don't think about it.
Let's go. Back to Paris.
I have a wedding to prepare.
TWO MONTHS LATER
♪ When you're alone and life Is making you lonely, you can always go ♪
♪ Downtown ♪
♪ When you've got worries All the noise and the hurry ♪
♪ Seems to help, I know ♪
♪ Downtown ♪
♪ Just listen to the music Of the traffic in the city ♪
♪ Linger on the sidewalk Where the neon signs are pretty ♪
♪ How can you lose? ♪
♪ The lights are much brighter there ♪
♪ You can forget all your troubles Forget all your cares ♪
♪ So go downtown ♪
♪ Things will be great When you're downtown ♪
♪ Everything's waiting for you ♪
- Oh, shit, you're early. - You're not done?
We're terribly behind schedule.
She's not made up. Her hair's not done. She hasn't changed into her dress.
Betty, who is it?
The evening gown.
We have to be in town hall in an hour.
I'll go see if I can find an iron.
I was wondering if I might run into you.
I made everyone leave. The skirt wasn't finished.
It's so worth it.
Having conquered the world, only to end up as you began in the antique chamber.
Waiting for the lady to put on her dress.
You've got your seven-league boots on.
Are you planning on running away when you see Pierre?
No. Why should I?
He doesn't run very fast.
How are you doing?
Fine. And you?
Fine.
-You've aged. -You've put on weight.
Did you miss me?
He left me, you know.
Pierre.
Yes, that's what I have been told.
For an American gardener.
Guess what his name was.
Madison Cox.
Fine summary of Pierre's life.
Now I live with my servants.
There are days when I don't get up.
Those are the best days.
I'd like to be 20 years old again.
Do things for the sake of beauty.
Oh, listen to you.
You sound like an old fart, you know.
I am an old boudoir Full of withered roses
Where lies a whole litter Of old-fashioned dresses
There's no way you have the whole poem memorized.
Only those two lines. I've never read Baudelaire.
My mother is deteriorating.
And Jacques. How is he?
He's Jacques.
-Ta-da! -I love it.
Falls well, no?
Impeccable.
You look beautiful, darling.
That's good.
- Should we move on to the hair? - Let's go.
Is that your day gown?
You try to draw anything with this...
♪ I don't wanna lose you This good thing ♪
Very beautiful. Very Karl.
-You've seen nothing yet, André. -I can't wait.
Merci. Good to see you.
Excuse me. Mademoiselle Picasso's ready.
Sir, you're wanted at the entrance.
Uh, stay here when she arrives. You deserve it.
I'm coming.
-Very good. -I'll be there.
-Bonsoir, Karl. -Bonsoir.
Dress me?
Okay.
I ran my whole way.
I was up all night editing, Karl.
Right out the door and straight to the airport. Uh, not that one.
Classic like Baron de Charlus.
Pierre and Yves here yet?
Pierre, yes. Yves, not yet.
-Uh, white. -Mmm-hmm.
How's it look, Paloma's dress?
No special privileges, hmm?
-You'll see her the same time I do. -No, Karl!
I worked so hard, Karl.
You wouldn't have recognized me at all.
I haven't slept in months.
What the hell am I going to do?
Every morning, I get up and say, "I'm quitting. I've got to call Karl back.
"I can't do this. It's impossible. I need to tell him this was a mistake."
That's why I came here.
I didn't wanna make that call.
And here I thought you'd forgotten me.
I have talent.
They said so.
It's true. Because I had an idea for a shot.
At one point, I could clearly see this image in my head
of exactly what we needed to do with it.
But I kept insisting,
so they let me play, and it was gorgeous.
Really beautiful.
Then they believed in me.
I knew it.
I told you.
I want to do this now.
-Film things. -I will help you.
Soon, I won't need you to help me.
- No. - No?
Thank you.
The freedom has been nice.
Back from Rome.
-Rome? -Just now, yes.
Just now?
- Literally. - Oh.
- Why? - I was directing a film.
That's why. For Fendi. I can't wait for you to see it.
I wasn't expecting that.
No, see, ah... It was great.
I wrote, I directed, I did it all.
Really, I was working overtime.
The more you create illusions, the better I see you.
A lonely man.
Oh, there's Anna. Anna!
Jacques!
My friend.
How are you?
You look beautiful.
- Goodbye. Thank you very much. - Merci.
Karl, what's wrong? You're not changed? Everybody's going out.
-I think I'm done. -No, come out with me.
Come on.
Stay, Jacques.
I'll tell you all about it, hmm?
Carla Fendi for Karl Lagerfeld, per favore.
Hold on.
Well? Have you seen it? It's good, isn't it?
- Si. - I was incredulous.
I can say that now. But it's so light, beautiful, sensual.
He understood the spirit of Fendi.
You were so right. This film was a very good idea.
We'll show it to journalists to prepare the launch of the collection.
No. No, no, no, no.
Is it too soon?
I'm so sorry. I have... I've made a mistake.
We simply cannot use the film.
But why?
It's not professional.
Uh, it looks like it was made by a student.
But that's what I like about it.
It's surprising and spontaneous.
Do not premiere this.
I'm happy to refund all the expenses.
But he is good, right?
Sure.
He's talented.
♪ Talking away ♪
♪ I don't know what I'm to say ♪
♪ I'll say it anyway ♪
♪ Today is another day to find you ♪
♪ Shying away ♪
♪ I'll be coming for your love, okay? ♪
♪ Take on me ♪
♪ Take me on ♪
♪ I'll be gone ♪
♪ In a day or two ♪
♪ So needless to say ♪
♪ I'm odds and ends ♪
♪ But that's me, I'm stumbling away ♪
♪ Slowly learning that life is okay ♪
♪ Say after me ♪
♪ It's no better to be safe than sorry ♪
♪ Take on me ♪
♪ Take me on ♪
♪ I'll be gone ♪
♪ In a day or two ♪
♪ I'll be gone ♪
♪ In a day or two ♪
ELISABETH LAGERFELD DIED AT PENHOËT FOUR MONTHS LATER, ON SEPTEMBER 14, 1978,
WITHOUT SEEING HER SON AGAIN.