Director: Gero von Boehm
Medium: Documentary Film
Duration: 93 minutes
Language: English, German, French
Premiere: June 5, 2020
Helmut Newton: The Bad and the Beautiful (2020) is a documentary examining the legacy of German-Australian photographer Helmut Newton (1920–2004), whose provocative and often controversial imagery shaped the landscape of 20th-century fashion photography. Directed by Gero von Boehm, the film offers an intimate exploration of Newton’s work through the perspectives of his subjects, including Charlotte Rampling, Grace Jones, Isabella Rossellini, and Anna Wintour.
Framing Newton’s bold, eroticized aesthetic within the cultural and historical contexts of his era, the documentary juxtaposes admiration with critique, questioning the power dynamics embedded in his depictions of the female form. Archival footage and interviews provide insight into his creative process, personal history—including his exile from Nazi Germany—and the ongoing debate over his artistic intentions.
With a title that echoes the duality in Newton’s work, The Bad and the Beautiful interrogates the fine line between empowerment and objectification, positioning the photographer as both an agent of visual revolution and a figure of controversy. The film serves as a critical entry in the discourse surrounding fashion photography, gender representation, and artistic provocation in the late 20th century.
