Not a Pretty Picture
Blurring the line between documentary and storytelling, Coolidge’s compelling meta-narrative examines her own sexual assault by a high-school classmate. Coolidge enlists actors to recreate the circumstances surrounding her rape and interviews her former roommate to illuminate the consequences and complexities of its aftermath.
* Restored by the Academy Film Archive and The Film Foundation. Funding provided by the Hobson/Lucas Family Fondation.
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Martha Coolidge’s Not a Pretty Picture (1975) demonstrates that past films can be more helpful in understanding the present at times. This film combines drama and documentary to depict violence against women and how society deals with that violence. This film, which has been difficult to access despite its unique originality, addresses the ongoing issue of date rape, for which there still seems to be no clear solution. Because of her extensive career spanning Hollywood films and TV series, we almost forget that her career in film began with documentaries. It is very fortunate that we have the great opportunity to introduce her debut film to a new audience, thanks to the Academy Film Archive’s restoration efforts, which weren’t just about preserving a film of artistic value but also about prompting reflection on issues through today’s sensitivities. Director Martha Coolidge employs every aspect of the film language to craft a piece as original and sensitive as the topic it tackles. (Sung MOON)
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Martha Coolidge⎜PebbleEnt@gmail.com
Martha COOLIDGE
