Her Name Is Zelda (2004)

• 83%
• 2004
• Documentary
• Nicole Zampogna

An intimate, sometimes troubling, portrait of life, aging, and womanhood through the lively exploits of 85-year-old Zelda Kaplan — Manhattan's oldest party animal since Disco Sally. A dancer, social butterfly, model, and humanitarian, Zelda takes life by storm, redefining what it means to be "old" in the process. The film documents Zelda's middle-aged transformation from a typical suburban housewife into a beloved and eccentric creature of New York City nightlife — attending art openings, dancing nightly, and posing for renowned painters and photographers. Some of her friends question whether she is being exploited by the denizens of the art scene, but there is no doubt about the independence and social consciousness that drives Zelda to travel the world on a one-woman mission to promote global women's rights. Zelda's uniqueness and joie de vivre are a testament to the fact that life can be lived to the fullest at any age.