Naxos and Arthaus Musik present Frames from the Edge: Helmut Newton, a film by Adrian Maben, as a documentary on the life and works of this great photographer whose chances in life exiled him out of the chaos of Nazi Germany and brought him through Singapore to a residency and citizenship in Australia. This is where he met and married his lifetime companion, June Brunell, in 1948. As an aspiring actress of that time, she became his model and fellow photographer under the pseudonym of Alice Springs.
Helmut said, "I like photographing the people I admire, the famous, and especially the infamous." His many portraits capture the essence of notables such as Isabella Rossellini, Luciano Pavarotti, Sophia Loren, Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol and Karl Lagerfield. As a successful international fashion photographer in the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's, he developed a sensitive portrayal of the movement of fabric, form and light, plus an appreciation for the artistic elegance and divine grace of the woman. Some of his famous models were Sigourney Weaver, Catherine Deneuve, Natassja Kinski and Charlotte Rampling. His fashion photographs gained him certain celebrity in Vogue, Elle, Playboy, Queen, and Marie Claire magazines.
Helmut pursued his photographic passion with vigor. Being born the son of wealthy Jewish-German and American parents, he spent much of his early childhood traveling to health spas and staying in posh hotels. This probably accounted for his preference of selecting backgrounds of historic and glamorous hotel interiors or luxuriant, seductive landscapes rather than a barren studio. His nude photographs are beguiling and captivating. The artist translates his idea through his model to create the image in his mind. The models were sometimes staged into contortionistic positions that would produce masterpieces of poise, beauty and ease.
In the busy schedule of Helmut Newton, the documentary shows that he is a man without roots as he travels from Berlin to Paris to Monte Carlo to Los Angeles to gratify his obsession. The documentary takes you on various tours from fashion's glamour and elegance to the underworld of erotica to gallery exhibitions of his works. He admits that shock was a characteristic of his work that bombarded the moral restrictions of his day and reshaped society's views on artistic morality. Newton was known for his unstoppable passion and ego. He was still working at age 79. On January 23, 2004, he would die in an automobile crash in Hollywood.
Frames from the Edge: Helmut Newton bonuse features include "Impressum," a text by Anja Jackes, translated by Dr. Alexander Reynolds, which further highlights the life and times of the famous photographer. Also included is a Trailer focusing on mini-biographies of artists Johns, Bacon and Bauhaus. The Picture Gallery is a presentation of photographic stills of the artist and his work.
This documentary is very graphic and I would advise that caution be taken before presenting the subject matter to those under 18. Some of the photographs lean towards sado-masochism and fetishes. I believe the works of Helmut Newton are extraordinary photographic narratives, and present us with the opportunity to explore the creative art of one of the great 20th century photographers.
