Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Vanderbilt & Anderson Cooper

Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Vanderbilt & Anderson Cooper is a poignant 2016 documentary that delves into the rich and multi-layered life of the remarkable Gloria Vanderbilt. This personal and deeply revealing exploration is narrated by her son, the acclaimed journalist Anderson Cooper, offering a uniquely intimate look into the life of one of the most notable artists and fashion icons of the 20th century.

Helmed by the Emmy Award-winning director Liz Garbus, the film employs a series of intimate conversations, rare archive footage, home videos, and candid interviews to weave a rich tapestry that illuminates the vibrant life of Vanderbilt. Besides Cooper himself, the film features contributions from other close individuals such as Pearson Marx and Stan Stokowski, adding depth and dynamics to the narrative.

The heart of the film lies in the potent conversations between Vanderbilt and Cooper. Through their shared recollections and playful banter, the audience experiences not just the life of a renowned heiress, but also an exquisite insight into a profound mother-son bond. The candid interactions between the pair form a cornerstone of the documentary, putting forth a deeply human, universal narrative about family, legacy, and a mother's love.

The film opens with Vanderbilt’s opulent early years as the "poor little rich girl," the center of a fierce custody battle, which was often dubbed "the trial of the century" in the late 1930s. This sets the stage for the exploration of a life that was anything but ordinary.

The narrative then journeys through Vanderbilt’s tumultuous teenage years, her early romantic liaisons, her marriages, and the birth of her sons. As Vanderbilt recounts these periods, the audience is privy to joyous highs, heartbreaking lows, and scandalous moments that make up her storied life. Notable among these are her four marriages, her accomplished art career, her controversial ventures into both fashion and theatre, and of course, the unspeakable tragedies that have punctuated her family's history.

The unique aspect of this documentary is the personal perspective provided by Vanderbilt herself. Her narratives are beautifully juxtaposed with delicate animations, personal photographs, and excerpts from her letters and diaries, capturing the essence of the years gone by. The film does not shy away from addressing the many tragedies and scandals that enveloped Vanderbilt’s life; rather, it presents an honest portrayal, exploring how these compelled her to live life on her terms, often breaking societal norms.

Adding depth to the film, Cooper brings forth his side of the story, reflecting on his mother's influence on his career and his personal life. His recollections tie-in revealing anecdotes about his childhood, fleshing out his own perspective about being Vanderbilt's son. The interactions between mother and son are often rife with emotion, as they openly address their shared grief, and reveal the surprising ways they’ve dealt with their losses.

Cooper’s journalistic ability beautifully cuts through the facade of high society glamour to expose the truth and essence of his mother's life, refusing to paint an unblemished picture. The audience gets to see Gloria Vanderbilt, the person, as opposed to Gloria Vanderbilt, the icon, and at the same time, gain intimate insights into Cooper as a son who’s dealt with the fallout of a highly publicized family history.

Nothing Left Unsaid touches upon a multitude of topics - grief, love, fame, family dynamics, and society's expectations. It paints a nuanced portrait of an incredible woman who lived her life in the public eye, yet remained fiercely private. It offers an insider look at success and tragedy, resilience and reinvention, exploring what it means to be born into fame, yet striving to carve one’s own identity.

Through this profound exploration of one family’s rise to fame, the film presents a universal narrative about the powerful bonds of love and resilience in the face of life's adversities. Like the title suggests, Nothing Left Unsaid tells the story of Gloria Vanderbilt, leaving no stone unturned.