All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022) Movie Review
If you haven’t heard of Nan Goldin before, then All the Beauty and the Bloodshed will not be as interesting or as affecting. If you’ve been privileged enough to learn about her or see her photography at an exhibit in person, then this documentary will be of particular interest.
It’s no surprise that a good chunk of the movie involves interviews with Goldin as she discusses her life and her work. Director Laura Poitras alternates between clips of Goldin and showcasing her work on the screen. Seeing the images in front of you as Goldin discusses what influenced her artistic endeavors is very affecting and makes the images even more meaningful than looking at them with little or no context. Goldin had a tumultuous life, from her sister committing suicide at a young age to Nan essentially going out on her own as a teenager and spending a significant amount of time as a sex worker. Her art became her voice and Goldin’s insights about her experiences and how they impacted her work are fascinating.
The documentary could have solely focused on Goldin the artist, but Poitras takes it in another direction. The Sackler family becomes intertwined with Goldin’s story and the photographs that she takes. For those who don’t know, the Sacklers owned Purdue Pharma, a pharmaceutical company that made its fortune off of Oxycontin. Many of Nan’s closest friends became addicted to the drug and died. Nan herself became addicted to the pain pills when she was prescribed them after a boyfriend brutally beat her. The conundrum Goldin finds herself in is that many art museums and galleries are funded by or benefit from the finances of the Sackler family. The sick, twisted ways of capitalism are on full display as Goldin’s photographs are shown in a room named for the Sacklers–the very people responsible for creating the drug that killed many of the subjects in the photos.
Goldin begins leading the charge to protest the Sacklers’ involvement in art galleries and museums. That crusade fills the other half of the movie and gives more context and weight to Goldin’s life, work, and artistic creations. All the Beauty and the Bloodshed is incredibly impactful. It showcases Goldin’s artistic skills and highlights her activism, something casual fans might not be aware of. It truly confirms the idea that art can inspire change and make a difference in the world. And if nothing else, the documentary proves that Goldin’s legacy will quietly live on.
You’ll like this movie if:
1. You like Nan Goldin
2. You’re interested in photography
3. You’re interested stories about the opioid epidemic
