You might not know Jocelyne Wildenstein’s name, but if you lived in New York in the ‘90s, you’ve almost certainly seen her face. Born in Switzerland, Jocelyne began her high-society career hobnobbing with European filmmakers before marrying into the Wildensteins, a powerful family of New York art dealers. As a Wildenstein, Jocelyne was controversial, developing a passion for plastic surgery that cemented her outsider status within this wealthy and well-connected clan. That’s when Jocelyne caught her husband in bed with a 21-year-old Russian model, triggering the divorce case that would make her famous.

Jocelyne’s notoriety as the so-called “Catwoman” came with both mockery and niche appreciation, as interviewees like Amanda Lepore and The Village Voice’s Michael Musto describe while explaining Jocelyne’s unique appeal. But nothing works better to understand that appeal than watching Jocelyne herself, who opens the film by hitting a crew member’s vape and promising, “I’ll take a second [hit], and then I’ll tell my whole story.” The filmmakers approach the story of this larger-than-life woman with an affectionate, open-minded curiosity, forming a portrait of a true New York original that’s all the more precious given Jocelyne’s passing at the end of 2024.—Cara Cusumano