All the Beauty and the Bloodshed

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed is a 2022 American biographical documentary film about photographer, artist, and activist Nan Goldin. The film is produced, co-edited and directed by Laura Poitras,[3] and tackles Goldin's life through her advocacy during the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 80's, and her fight against the Sackler family for their role in the current opioid epidemic in the United States.[4] Poitras, a long-time friend and fan, stated that "Nan's art and vision has inspired my work for years, and has influenced generations of filmmakers."[5]

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLaura Poitras
Produced by
StarringNan Goldin
Cinematography
  • Nan Goldin (credited as Photography and Slideshows)
  • Clare Carter
  • Robert Kolodny
  • Alexander W. Lewis
  • Laura Poitras
  • Sean Vegezzi
  • Thom Pavia
Edited byAmy Foote
Joe Bini
Brian A. Kates
Music bySoundwalk Collective
Dawn Sutter Madell
Production
companies
Distributed byNeon
Release dates
  • September 3, 2022 (2022-09-03) (Venice)
  • November 23, 2022 (2022-11-23) (United States)
Running time
122 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.7 million[1][2]

The film premiered on September 3, 2022, at the 79th Venice International Film Festival,[6] where it was awarded the Golden Lion, making it the second documentary (following Sacro GRA in 2013) to win the top prize at Venice. It also screened at the 2022 New York Film Festival,[4] where it was the festival's centerpiece film and for which Goldin designed two official posters.[7][8]

The film was received with critical acclaim, and was released in cinemas by Neon on November 23, 2022. At the 95th Academy Awards, the film was nominated for Best Documentary Feature.[9][10] The film then went on to win a Peabody Award at the 84th ceremony for "capturing the zeal of an artist eager to use her work to create a new vision for and of the world."[11]

Synopsis

edit

The film examines the life and career of photographer and activist Nan Goldin and her efforts to hold Purdue Pharma, owned by the Sackler family, accountable for the opioid epidemic. Goldin, a well known photographer whose work often documented the LGBT subcultures and the HIV/AIDS crisis, founded the advocacy group P.A.I.N. (Prescription Addiction Intervention Now) in 2017 after her addiction to Oxycontin, and near fatal overdose of fentanyl. P.A.I.N. specifically targets museums and other arts institutions to hold the art community accountable for its collaboration with the Sackler family and its well publicized financial support of the arts. Since P.A.I.N.'s activities most of the targeted museums have severed all ties with the Sackler family and in 2021 Purdue Pharma filed for bankruptcy.

The film is structured in seven chapters, each of which begins with a photographic sequence or archival footage of a period of Goldin's life and then transitions to footage of her recent protests with P.A.I.N. The slideshow of archival photographs is reminiscent of Goldin's work creating slideshows or series of photographs, such as The Ballad of Sexual Dependency. Footage of P.A.I.N. demonstrations include its first 2018 protest at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Temple of Dendur as well as similar demonstrations at the Louvre and the Guggenheim Museum. Goldin is the primary narrator of the film, with additional interviews from associates such as journalist Patrick Radden Keefe and P.A.I.N. member Megan Kapler.

Cast

edit

Production

edit

Goldin and two other activists had been filming their activities with P.A.I.N. for two years, intending to make a documentary about the activist group. Goldin then approached the film's production company about turning the footage into a film, and Laura Poitras was suggested to Goldin to direct the film, based on Poitras's work on Astro Noise for the Whitney Museum. Goldin was initially skeptical because of Poitras' previous political films, saying "I thought I was not going to be interesting to her because I don't have any state secrets."[12]

Goldin has stated that most of the film's footage and photographs come directly from her. Poitras expanded on Goldin's vision for the project, and chose to make a more well-rounded film about Goldin's life and career. These biographical elements include the suicide of Goldin's sister, Goldin's drug use and her sex work activities, which she had never previously publicized, as well as her art career and achievements. Goldin initially felt uncomfortable with allowing Poitras to control the film and the depiction of her life, but was happy with the finished film. Goldin said that Poitras was "telling my story in my voice, but it's not exactly my version as I would tell it. But she's been amazing into letting me have a lot of input into what's used and not used."[12]

Release

edit

The film premiered on September 3, 2022, at the 79th Venice International Film Festival,[6] where it was awarded the Golden Lion.[13] It screened at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 9. Shortly afterwards Poitras criticized both the Venice and Toronto festivals for screening a film produced by Hillary Clinton, In Her Hands. Poitras stated that she was "alarmed" by Clinton's presence at the festivals, adding "Hillary Clinton was actively involved in the wars and occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan. She supported the escalation of troops."[14] It also screened at the 2022 New York Film Festival,[4] where it was the festival's centerpiece film.[15]

In August 2022, before its Venice premiere, Neon acquired the US distribution rights for the movie while the UK and Ireland rights were taken by Altitude Film Distribution.[5][16] In September 2022, HBO Documentary Films acquired television and streaming rights to the film.[17] The film was released in theaters by Neon on November 23, 2022.[18] The film coincides with This Will Not End Well, a retrospective of Goldin's work at Stockholm's Moderna Museet which opened October 29, 2022.[5]

Reception

edit

Critical response

edit

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 95% based on 145 reviews, with an average rating of 8.7/10. The website's consensus reads, "All the Beauty and the Bloodshed is a bone-deep look at a photographer's fight against addiction and the institution responsible for her pain through her gritty lens."[19] According to Metacritic, which assigned a weighted average score of 91 out of 100 based on 34 critics, the film received "universal acclaim".[20]

Godfrey Cheshire praised the film for being equally Poitras' and Goldin's work, stating that "there's effectively no conceptual distance between the auteur documentarian and her artist subject...the result of their sympathetic engagement is a collaboration of rare beauty and power."[15]

On December 21, 2022, the film was shortlisted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Best Documentary Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards. It was ultimately nominated in the category. The film won a Peabody Award for "capturing the zeal of an artist eager to use her work to create a new vision for and of the world" at the 84th ceremony on June 9, 2024.[11]

Accolades

edit
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Venice Film Festival September 10, 2022 Golden Lion Laura Poitras Won [21]
Queer Lion Nominated [22]
Smithers Foundation Award "Ambassador of Hope" Won [23]
Athens International Film Festival October 8, 2022 Golden Athena Best Documentary Award All the Beauty and the Bloodshed Won [24]
London Film Festival October 16, 2022 Grierson Award Nominated [25]
Montclair Film Festival October 30, 2022 Bruce Sinosky Award for Documentary Feature Won [26]
Critics' Choice Documentary Awards November 13, 2022 Best Political Documentary Nominated [27]
Best Director Laura Poitras Nominated
Gotham Independent Film Awards November 28, 2022 Best Documentary All the Beauty and the Bloodshed Nominated [28]
New York Film Critics Circle Awards December 2, 2022 Best Non-Fiction Film Won [29]
British Independent Film Awards December 4, 2022 Best International Independent Film Laura Poitras, Howard Gertler, John Lyons, Nan Goldin, Yoni Golijov Nominated [30]
National Board of Review December 8, 2022 Top Five Documentaries All the Beauty and the Bloodshed Won [31]
Freedom of Expression Award Won
New York Film Critics Online December 11, 2022 Best Documentary Feature Won [32]
Los Angeles Film Critics Association December 11, 2022 Best Documentary/Non-Fiction Film Won [33]
Boston Society of Film Critics December 11, 2022 Best Documentary Film Won [34]
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association December 12, 2022 Best Documentary Nominated [35]
Chicago Film Critics Association December 14, 2022 Best Documentary Film Nominated [36]
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association December 18, 2022 Best Documentary Film Won [37]
Florida Film Critics Circle December 22, 2022 Best Documentary Film Won [38]
Alliance of Women Film Journalists January 5, 2023 Best Documentary Won [39]
San Diego Film Critics Society January 6, 2023 Best Documentary Nominated [40]
National Society of Film Critics January 7, 2023 Best Non-Fiction Film Won [41]
Toronto Film Critics Association January 8, 2023 Best Documentary Film Won [42]
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle January 9, 2023 Best Documentary Feature Nominated [43]
Austin Film Critics Association January 10, 2023 Best Documentary Won [44]
Cinema Eye Honors January 12, 2023 Outstanding Non-Fiction Feature Laura Poitras, Howard Gertler, John Lyons, Nan Goldin, Yoni Golijov Nominated [45]
[46]
Outstanding Direction Laura Poitras Won
Outstanding Editing Amy Foote, Joe Bini and Brian A. Kates Nominated
Outstanding Original Score Soundwalk Collective Nominated
The Unforgettables Nan Goldin Won
Georgia Film Critics Association January 13, 2023 Best Documentary Film All the Beauty and the Bloodshed Won [47]
Seattle Film Critics Society January 17, 2023 Best Documentary Feature Nominated [48]
Online Film Critics Society January 23, 2023 Best Documentary Nominated [49]
Houston Film Critics Society February 18, 2023 Best Documentary Feature Nominated [50]
London Film Critics' Circle February 5, 2023 Film of the Year Nominated [51]
Documentary of the Year Won
Satellite Awards February 11, 2023 Best Motion Picture – Documentary Nominated [52]
Vancouver Film Critics Circle February 13, 2023 Best Documentary Won [53]
Directors Guild of America Awards February 18, 2023 Outstanding Directing – Documentaries Laura Poitras Nominated [54]
British Academy Film Awards February 19, 2023 Best Documentary Laura Poitras, Howard Gertler, Nan Goldin, Yoni Golijov, John Lyons Nominated [55]
Dorian Awards February 23, 2023 Documentary of the Year All the Beauty and the Bloodshed Won [56]
LGBTQ Documentary of the Year Won
Hollywood Critics Association Awards February 24, 2023 Best Documentary Film All the Beauty and the Bloodshed Nominated [57]
Independent Spirit Awards March 4, 2023 Best Documentary Feature Laura Poitras, Howard Gertler, Nan Goldin, Yoni Golijov, John Lyons Won [58]
Academy Awards March 12, 2023 Best Documentary Feature Nominated [59]
GLAAD Media Awards March 30, 2023 Outstanding Documentary All the Beauty and the Bloodshed Nominated [60]
Golden Trailer Awards June 29, 2023 Best Documentary – Bio Pic of an Individual All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (Intermission Film) Nominated [61]
Peabody Awards June 9, 2024 Capturing the Zeal of an Artist Eager to Use Her Work to Create a New Vision For and Of the World All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (Intermission Film) Won [11]

References

edit
  1. ^ "All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  2. ^ "All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  3. ^ Lang, Brent (August 4, 2022). "Laura Poitras' All the Beauty and the Bloodshed Tapped as New York Film Festival Centerpiece Selection". Variety.
  4. ^ a b c Sutton, Benjamin (August 5, 2022). "Laura Poitras documentary on Nan Goldin's campaign against the Sacklers to show at New York Film Festival". The Art Newspaper - International art news and events.
  5. ^ a b c Kilkenny, Katie (August 18, 2022). "Neon Acquires Laura Poitras Doc All the Beauty and the Bloodshed". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Biennale Cinema 2022 | All the Beauty and the Bloodshed". La Biennale di Venezia. July 20, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  7. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 4, 2022). "New York Film Festival Selects Laura Poitras Documentary All The Beauty And The Bloodshed As Centerpiece". Deadline. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  8. ^ "60th New York Film Festival Posters by Nan Goldin Unveiled". Film at Lincoln Center. September 13, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  9. ^ 2023|Oscars.org
  10. ^ 'Navalny' Wins Best Documentary Feature Film | 95th Oscars (2023)
  11. ^ a b c https://peabodyawards.com/award-profile/all-the-beauty-and-the-bloodshed/
  12. ^ a b Cascone, Sarah (September 14, 2022). "Nan Goldin on Handing Over the Camera to Laura Poitras for a Golden Lion-Winning Documentary About Her Life". Art World. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  13. ^ Foreman, Alison (September 10, 2022). "'All the Beauty and the Bloodshed' wins Golden Lion at Venice: All the Winners". Deadline. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  14. ^ Carey, Matthew (September 13, 2022). "Oscar Winner Laura Poitras Bashes Toronto, Venice For Programming Hillary Clinton Docs, Accuses Festivals Of "Kind Of Whitewashing" Clinton's Record". Deadline. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  15. ^ a b Cheshire, Godfrey (October 9, 2022). "NYFF 2022: No Bears, R.M.N., All the Beauty and the Bloodshed". rogerebert.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  16. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (August 22, 2022). "Altitude Boards International Sales, UK & Ireland Rights For Laura Poitras' Nan Goldin Doc 'All The Beauty And The Bloodshed'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  17. ^ Carey, Matthew (September 8, 2022). "HBO Documentary Films Acquires Laura Poitras Oscar Contender 'All The Beauty And The Bloodshed' Ahead Of TIFF North American Premiere". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  18. ^ Chapman, Wilson (October 13, 2022). "'All the Beauty and the Bloodshed' Trailer: Laura Poitras Tracks Nan Goldin's Takedown of the Sacklers". IndieWire. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  19. ^ "All the Beauty and the Bloodshed". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  20. ^ "All the Beauty and the Bloodshed Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  21. ^ "Venice Film Festival Winners: Cate Blanchett, Colin Farrell Take Top Acting Prizes – Updating Live". Deadline Hollywood. September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  22. ^ Goldstein, Gregg (September 1, 2022). "'Tár' Leads Large Pack of Venice Pics in Race for Queer Lion". Variety. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  23. ^ "COLLATERAL AWARDS OF THE 79TH VENICE FILM FESTIVAL". labiennale.org. September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  24. ^ "28th Athens International Film Festival: Stranger than Fiction International Documentaries Competition Awards". en.aiff.gr. October 8, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  25. ^ "Full programme announced for 66th BFI London Film Festival". BFI. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  26. ^ Moye, Clarence (October 31, 2022). "Montclair Film Festival Announces 2022 Award Winners". Awards Daily. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  27. ^ Davis, Clayton (October 17, 2022). "'Fire of Love' and 'Good Night Oppy' Lead Critics Choice Documentary Award Nominations". Variety. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  28. ^ Shanfield, Ethan (October 25, 2022). "'Tár' Leads Gotham Awards Nominations: Full List". Variety. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  29. ^ Davis, Clayton (December 2, 2022). "New York Film Critics Circle Announcing 2022 Winners (Updating Live)". Variety. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  30. ^ Ntim, Zac (November 4, 2022). "British Independent Film Awards: 'Aftersun,' 'Blue Jean' & 'The Wonder' Lead Nominations". Deadline. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  31. ^ Alter, Rebecca (December 8, 2022). "National Board of Review Names Top Gun: Maverick Best Film of 2022". Vulture. Archived from the original on October 24, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  32. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 11, 2022). "The 2022 New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO) Winners". NextBestPicture. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  33. ^ Thomas, Carly (December 11, 2022). "'Tár' and 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' Named Best Picture by L.A. Film Critics". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  34. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 11, 2022). "The 2022 Boston Society Of Film Critics (BSFC) Winners". NextBestPicture. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  35. ^ Anderson, Erik (December 10, 2022). "Washington DC Film Critics nominations: 'Everything Everywhere All At Once,' 'The Fabelmans' lead". Awards Watch. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  36. ^ Tallerico, Brian (December 12, 2022). "Everything Everywhere All at Once Leads Chicago Film Critics Nominations". Rogerebert.com. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  37. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 11, 2022). "The 2022 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Nominations". NextBestPicture. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  38. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 14, 2022). "The 2022 Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  39. ^ "2022 EDA AWARDS NOMINEES". Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  40. ^ "2022 San Diego Film Critics Society Nominations". San Diego Film Critics Society. January 3, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  41. ^ Zilko, Christian (January 7, 2023). "'TÁR' and 'Aftersun' Win Big at National Society of Film Critics Awards (Complete Winners List)". IndieWire. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  42. ^ "AFTERSUN LEADS 26TH ANNUAL TFCA AWARDS WINNERS". Toronto Film Critics Association. January 8, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  43. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 6, 2023). "The 2022 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  44. ^ "2022 Austin Film Critics Association Award Nominations". Austin Film Critics Association. January 3, 2022. Archived from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  45. ^ Jones, Marcus (November 10, 2022). "'Fire of Love' and 'The Territory' Lead 2023 Cinema Eye Honors Nonfiction Film Nominees". IndieWire. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  46. ^ MacCary, Julia; Shafer, Ellise (January 12, 2023). "'All That Breathes,' 'Fire of Love' Lead Cinema Eye Honors". Variety. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  47. ^ Anderson, Erik (January 7, 2023). "2022 Georgia Film Critics Association (GAFCA) nominations". AwardsWatch. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  48. ^ ""Everything Everywhere All At Once" Leads the 2022 Seattle Film Critics Society Nominations". Seattle Film Critics Society. January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  49. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 23, 2023). "The 2022 Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  50. ^ Darling, Cary (January 10, 2023). "'Everything Everywhere,' 'Banshees of Inisherin' top list of Houston critics' nominations". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  51. ^ Pulver, Andrew (December 21, 2022). "The Banshees of Inisherin leads pack as London film critics announce nominations". The Guardian. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  52. ^ Anderson, Erik (December 8, 2022). "'Top Gun: Maverick' leads International Press Academy's 27th Satellite Awards nominations". Awards Watch. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  53. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 22, 2023). "The 2022 Vancouver Film Critics Circle (VFCC) Nominations". NextBestPicture. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  54. ^ Pedersen, Erik (January 11, 2023). "DGA Awards Film Nominations: Steven Spielberg, Martin McDonagh, Todd Field, Joseph Kosinski & The Daniels Vying for Top Prize". Deadline. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  55. ^ Ntim, Zac (January 19, 2023). "BAFTA Film Awards Nominations: 'All Quiet On The Western Front,' 'Banshees Of Inisherin' & 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' Lead — The Complete List". Deadline. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  56. ^ Clark, Jason (February 23, 2023). "'Everything Everywhere All at Once' Nabs 7 Dorian Awards From GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics". The Wrap. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  57. ^ Anderson, Erik (December 15, 2022). "6th Hollywood Critics Association Film Awards nominations: 'Everything Everywhere All At One,' 'The Banshees of Inisherin' lead". AwardsWatch. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  58. ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (November 22, 2022). "2023 Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations Announced (Updating Live)". IndieWire. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  59. ^ Lewis, Hilary (January 24, 2023). "Oscars: Full List of Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  60. ^ Jones, Marcus (January 18, 2023). "2023 GLAAD Media Awards Full Film and TV Nominations: 'Bros,' 'TÁR,' 'EEAAO,' and More". IndieWire. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  61. ^ Tinoco, Armando (June 5, 2023). "Golden Trailer Awards Nominations List: Stranger Things, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ted Lasso & Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Among Most Nominated". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
edit