The purpose of art is to present a reflection of a moment in time. Presumably, without the conflicts of societal restraints, initially created in the spirit of free thought, his creations, his art and passion is presented with respect to the female person and human form. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it is rare to find a soul with the ability to see, capture and present artwork that is so universal there is little to criticize. Personal preference is the only determining factor that is qualified to detract from the beauty of his work.
Helmut Newton: The Bad and the Beautiful
2020
Action / Biography / Documentary
Helmut Newton: The Bad and the Beautiful
2020
Action / Biography / Documentary
77% - Critics
75% - Audience
7.0Plot summary
Born into a wealthy Jewish family, Helmut Newton came of age ensconced in the seductive decadence of an 'anything goes' Berlin under the Weimar Republic. His teenaged apprenticeship under commercial photography pioneer Yva - who perished in the Holocaust - coincided with his family's persecution under the rise of the Third Reich and the emergence of the striking aesthetics of infamous Nazi propagandist, filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl. He escaped with members of his family in 1938 and met his life partner June while in Australia working as a commercial photographer. The couple eventually settled in Paris where Helmut's gradual evolution beyond the, then, conservative confines of fashion photography coincided with the radical political upheaval of 60s France. Interpreting the most traumatic political and cultural shift in German history, Helmut established his artistic legacy by effectively channeling his past into an erotically charged, highly-subversive portfolio dominated by bold 'Aryan'-esque women in stilettos navigating the shadowy past of Helmut's motherland. Replete with Helmut's arresting imagery, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL features creative accomplices Grace Jones, Charlotte Rampling, Isabella Rossellini, Marianne Faithfull, Anna Wintour and widow June Newton as they reflect on Helmut's life and legacy.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Sigourney Weaver as Self
Charlotte Rampling as Self
Isabella Rossellini as Self
Catherine Deneuve as Self
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB 818.31 MB
1280*694
English 2.0
NR
Movie Reviews
Reviewed by
Wonderful review of a lost philosophy
Reviewed by
Intriguing!
We've often discussed the line between arthouse and grindhouse. There's a similar division between glamour and smut. As one of the great masters of photography, Helmut Newton found fame exploring the female form. But were the women in his pieces empowered or exploited? These provocative, sensual and at times subversive images are the real stars of this film, which also features Newtpm's home movies and archival footage of the artist in the media.
Grace Jones, his muse Charlotte Rampling, Isabella Rossellini, Anna Wintour, Claudia Schiffer, Marianne Faithfull, Hanna Schygulla, Nadja Auermann, and Newton's wife June (photographer Alice Springs) all make appearances here, discussing how Newton's photography impacted their lives and how they saw themselves as attractive beings.
Directed by German filmmaker Gero von Boehm, this documentary is packed with the very images that it discusses. Of course, Grace Jones steals the show. But did you expect any less?
No matter where you stand on the divide between treasure or trash, you'll find plenty of intriguing material here. Despite his death in 2004, his work has stood the test of time. His work is such a part of our psyche, particularly with Playboy, which published an entire book of his work for the magazine. There is also an incredible shot of Jerry Hall that he shot from Adam, his giant nudes and even the portrait of Thatcher that Vanity Fair assigned to him.
Time referred to Newton as The King of Kink. But was he? Or just someone unafraid to shock, to play with gender roles and a man that encouraged women to own their fantasies - provided he could take the photos of the evidence? Make up your mind for yourself.