Details
Released in 2016, Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures offers a comprehensive and unflinching portrait of American photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, the documentary traces Mapplethorpe’s life from his conservative upbringing to his rise as a provocative icon in the art world. Through archival footage, personal letters, and interviews with close friends, lovers, and collaborators, the film provides an unvarnished account of his creative drive, controversies, and legacy.
The title, drawn from a U.S. Senate speech condemning his NEA-funded exhibition, sets the tone for a documentary that refuses to separate the artist from the bold, often transgressive imagery he produced. Mapplethorpe’s work, spanning floral still lifes, classical portraiture, and explicit representations of queer and BDSM subcultures, is examined not only for its visual power but also for its impact on culture, censorship, and identity politics. The film was made in close collaboration with The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation and features unprecedented access to his archives.
Technical Specifications
Released April 4, 2016
Directed by Fenton Bailey & Randy Barbato, USA
English
1 hour 48 minutes
Produced by World of Wonder & HBO Documentary Films
Network
Robert Mapplethorpe, Patti Smith, Debbie Harry, Fran Lebowitz, Jack Walls, Sam Wagstaff
Courtesy
Official U.S. DVD release of Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures, 2016
