This film is part of Rentals

Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures
An unflinching and sometimes graphic account of the life, art and legacy of the legendary photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.
Documentary 2016 109 mins
Director: Fenton Bailey
Overview
An unflinching and sometimes graphic account of the life, art and legacy of the legendary photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, with rich testimony from those who knew and worked with him. Robert Mapplethorpe’s work still has the power to shock, with its fearless depiction of the full spectrum of gay sexual practice, including sadomasochism, fetish and extreme sex.
This in-depth portrait of the legendary photographer features an extraordinary range of interviews with family, friends, fellow students, artists, lovers, models and co-workers – rich testimonies from eyewitnesses at various stages of Mapplethorpe’s career. Beautifully shot, it is a carefully constructed celebration of an individual’s devotion to art and a record of the power of photographic expression. Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato’s (RuPaul’s Drag Race, Inside Deep Throat) unflinching film offers a wide audience the chance to revel in the boldly seductive and provocative images that are usually only seen in gallery spaces, and to discover how many of his key images came to be made. It may unsettle viewers of a nervous disposition.

Related
Documentary

London in the Raw London in the Raw
Documentary 1964 47 mins Director: Arnold Louis Miller
Low-budget movie mogul Arnold Louis Miller concocted this exploitation-style documentary which peers behind the grimy net curtains of British life.

Arcadia Arcadia
Documentary 2017 79 mins Director: Paul Wright
A folk horror wrapped up in an archive film, set to a soundtrack by Adrian Utley (Portishead) and Will Gregory (Goldfrapp).

Wake Up Punk Wake Up Punk
Documentary 2022 84 mins Director: Nigel Askew
Nigel Askew's documentary explores the punk movement, featuring revealing insights from designer and punk icon Vivienne Westwood.

The Velvet Queen: Snow Leopard The Velvet Queen: Snow Leopard
Documentary 2021 92 mins Director: Marie Amiguet
An adventurer and one of the world's most renowned wildlife photographers attempt to track the most elusive of big cats, in this stunning documentary scored by Warren Ellis and Nick Cave.

Ennio Ennio
Documentary 2021 156 mins Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
A definitive portrait of Ennio Morricone, the legendary composer responsible for some of the most memorable film scores of all time.

River River
Documentary 2021 75 mins Director: Jennifer Peedom
A profound cinematic and musical reflection on how rivers have shaped both the planet’s elaborate landscapes and all human existence.
BFI Flare presents

God's Own Country God's Own Country
Drama 2017 105 mins Director: Francis Lee
A troubled young sheep farmer falls for a hired hand in this stunning debut from Francis Lee.

Vita & Virginia Vita & Virginia
Romance 2018 110 mins Director: Chanya Button
Gemma Arterton and Elizabeth Debicki relive a literary love affair, fiery and forbidden, with a remarkable legacy.

Giant Little Ones Giant Little Ones
Drama 2018 93 mins Director: Keith Behrman
The classic high-school coming-out story gets a smart revision in this sharply perceptive teen drama.

Summerland Summerland
Drama 2019 100 mins Director: Jessica Swale
Gemma Arterton stars in acclaimed theatre director Jessica Swale’s moving Second World War drama, as a woman rediscovering her ability to love.

Make Up Make Up
Drama 2019 86 mins Director: Claire Oakley
The debut feature from acclaimed short filmmaker Claire Oakley is a riveting psycho-sexual drama in which nothing is quite what it seems.

The Prince The Prince
Drama 2019 96 mins Director: Sebastián Muñoz
This powerful tale of love behind bars won the Queer Lion at the 2019 Venice Film Festival.
New

London in the Raw London in the Raw
Documentary 1964 47 mins Director: Arnold Louis Miller
Low-budget movie mogul Arnold Louis Miller concocted this exploitation-style documentary which peers behind the grimy net curtains of British life.

Arcadia Arcadia
Documentary 2017 79 mins Director: Paul Wright
A folk horror wrapped up in an archive film, set to a soundtrack by Adrian Utley (Portishead) and Will Gregory (Goldfrapp).

Chicken Run Chicken Run
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2000 84 mins Director: Peter Lord
Mel Gibson’s Rocky the rooster helps the chickens escape from fascistic farmers in Aardman Animations first foray into feature films.

Wayfinder Wayfinder
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2022 84 mins Director: Larry Achiampong
Follow the Wanderer on a profound reckoning with the landscape and culture of contemporary England in artist Larry Achiampong’s epic film.

Playground [Un Monde] Playground [Un Monde]
Drama 2021 72 mins Director: Laura Wandel
The harsh world of playground politics is seen through the eyes of a seven-year-old girl in a gripping debut from Belgian writer-director Laura Wandel.

Luzzu Luzzu
Drama 2021 95 mins Director: Alex Camilleri
Writer-director Alex Camilleri’s powerful neorealist drama is a rare home-grown Maltese production.