Audiences who caught Dior and I – Frédéric Tcheng’s doc highlighting Christian Dior’s Haute Couture collection – were left feeling good even though the doc had a standard structure.  Matthew Miele’s Crazy About Tiffany’s  – a documentary that captures Tiffany & Co. – will give those movie goers that extra boost they were looking for.

Through a dazzling spectrum, Crazy About Tiffany isn’t the movie you think it’s going to be.  It’s lighter than you expect with its history lessons, the interviews with jewellery aficionados aren’t offensively snooty, and the film ends up being quite enjoyable through its decadence.  You can choose to watch Matthew Miele’s documentary Crazy About Tiffany’s through cynical eyes, or embrace its enthusiasm for the influence the company has had on society and fashion.  If you choose door number two, you’ll catch yourself grinning.

To give you, the viewer, a straightforward summary of Miele’s film would be convoluted because the doc willingly goes off on many tangents.  We’re listening to interviewees talk about their favourite jewellery, and then learning about how it’s made, and suddenly we’re learning about the company’s pop cultural influence leading to interviews with film directors.  However, this heady excitement makes Crazy About Tiffany’s unlimitedly fascinating.

I appreciated how Miele examined details that help establish the elegant company.  It allowed outsiders and admirers to watch the film at the same level. For instance, Crazy About Tiffany’s shows viewers the thoughtfulness behind Tiffany & Co.’s signature colour as well as the creative processes when window dressing (courtesy of interviews with legend Gene Moore).  Miele packs in a lot of the company’s past while providing delightful humour along the way.  Never once do we feel the film is biting off more than it can handle.  By the end, we’re fulfilled.

Be warned: Crazy About Tiffany’s features interviews with socialites who flaunt and brag about their favourite pieces.  I voluntarily admit to rolling my eyes and snickering during a brief sit-down with Muffie Potter Aston who responds to her daughter falling down off screen by asking her about jewellery.  But, here’s how I handled these moments of camp: these fans are simply nerdy for Tiffany’s in the same way one can show giddiness for the next Marvel team-up.  Through this vision, these interviews are actually quite telling about the fan base of this iconic subculture.  This was a smart move on Miele’s part – who obviously chose to take the high road instead of resorting to puffed-up exploitation – because it allows his work to expand.

There’s something for everyone in Crazy About Tiffany’s.

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Addison Wylie: @AddisonWylie