‘Unzipped’ Restored: Keeve Revisits Mizrahi Doc — SkimNews
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- Douglas Keeve directed the 1995 documentary 'Unzipped' while romantically involved with subject Isaac Mizrahi, creating an intimate yet unflinching portrait of the designer during his 1994 collection debut at Paris Fashion Week
- 'Unzipped' has been restored in 4K by the Sundance Institute and UCLA Film & Television Archive and is returning to theaters starting at Film Forum in New York, with a planned expansion including Los Angeles on October 9
- Isaac Mizrahi's mother Sarah appears prominently in the film, embodying a stereotypically close yet fraught Jewish mother-son dynamic that Douglas Keeve describes as both affectionate and emblematic of broader cultural tropes
- Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, and Kate Moss appear in the documentary, with Keeve noting that Evangelista’s backstage outbursts were performative — a conscious contribution to the film’s narrative rather than genuine distress
- Keeve chose not to show Mizrahi any part of the film during editing, only presenting it when finalized, believing the camera captured Mizrahi’s obliviousness to being filmed even in private moments like bathroom phone calls with his mother
Why it matters: The re-release underscores how personal relationships can shape documentary authenticity — Keeve’s closeness to Mizrahi allowed rare access, but also raises questions about consent and portrayal. The restoration isn’t just technical; it revives a moment where love, art, and exposure intersected without resolution.
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