Director Katie Hindley has spent a lot of time thinking about the Kardashians. More than a year, in fact, which is approximately how long it took her to make “House of Kardashian,” the new three-part docuseries for 72 Films about the Calabasas clan.
In the series — one of the few about the family that they had no hand in (Kris Jenner and company declined to be interviewed for the project) — Hindley set out to place the women in a historical and social context, from their humble beginnings (Kris’s transformation from infomercial queen to “momager,” and Kim Kardashian’s sex tape) right through to their cultural impact, which Hindley says has been enormous.
She compares the sisters to that famous Meryl Streep monologue about cerulean in “The Devil Wears Prada” in which Streep, playing haughty fashion boss Miranda Priestly, informs her assistant that fashion affects everyone, whether they’re aware of it or not. “For everyone who thinks that [the Kardashians] don’t impact them, they have,” says Hindley. “There will be something that they’ve done, the selfie that they’ve taken, the way they’ve done their makeup — whatever it is — that will have a root in that family. And I think there’s a lot to say about that.”
Among the many talking heads in the docuseries — which range from former employees to friends such as “Girls Gone Wild” founder Joe Francis — the one who has so far caused the most chatter is Kris’s ex, Caitlyn Jenner, who is featured in the series’ trailer saying Kim “calculated” to become famous. Why did Jenner agree to take part? “I don’t think she has an agenda,” Hindley says. “I think she cares deeply about her family, and she wants to do right by them.” The director won’t speculate how close Jenner, who isn’t a castmember on the family’s new Hulu reality show “The Kardashians,” has remained with her former wife and kids. “It seemed like they had a regular ongoing relationship,” is all Hindley is prepared to venture.
“House of Kardashian,” which airs in the U.K. on Sky documentaries on Oct. 8, also delves into the mystery surrounding Kim’s sex tape, which she has long been rumored to have had a hand in releasing as an attempt to bolster her fame. “I think we get pretty close [to figuring out the truth behind the sex tape],” says Hindley. “I would say we’ve got as close as possible without Kim and Kris signing off on what they think happened.” (The series will also drop on Sky’s streaming platform Now, while a U.S. broadcast is in the works.)
Hindley won’t give any spoilers as to the documentary’s conclusion on the sex tape saga, but she emphasizes that everything the Kardashian women do is “intentional.” “They’re very intelligent, smart women who know what they’re doing, is how I would describe them,” she says. “They do things with intent, it’s not a mistake.” That includes leaning into the — incorrect — concept that they don’t actually work. “I think it helps them for people to believe that they’re famous for being famous,” Hindley says. “That they don’t work too hard, that this is just their life and — whoops! — this is what appears on Instagram in the morning.”
Hindley goes on to say that “the method behind that” leads to “how it’s turned into profit — and all of those very definite decisions that are made, I think is quite important.”
As well as exploring the family themselves the documentary also examines the culture of the 2000s, including rampant misogyny. “When they first came on to screens [in 2007] their reality show coincided with the economic downturn in the States and in the U.K. and people were looking for light relief,” Hindley says. “[But] they’ve garnered a lot of loyal fans. I think there are a lot of women in particular who see them as, you know, girl bosses. As women in control of their own fate.”
It’s one of the reasons people both love them — and hate them. “The people we celebrate are always a reflection of our society,” the director continues. “Society has changed drastically over the time that they’ve been famous.” Especially for women, Hindley says. The documentary starts with Kris’ own attempts to build an empire, first as Caitlyn’s manager and then her daughters’. “She was a housewife and got divorced, and suddenly had to find her own fortune and make her own money,” Hindley says of Kris.
Despite the negativity that’s often thrown at the Kardashians — whether it’s because they’re considered vapid or bad role models or simply “famous for being famous” — it’s undeniable that they also continue to attract eyeballs and wallets. “It can’t be discounted how much they have achieved on their own, without men to aid them more generally,” Hindley says. “As a group of women that’s quite a rare, if not unique, phenomenon. I don’t think there are any other dynasty families that hold that role.”
