Filmed by investigative journalist Laura Poitras, the film tells the story of Nan Goldin's life and her campaign to bring pharmaceutical magnates, the Sackler family, to justice. The latter are key players in the opioid epidemic in the US, which began in the late 90s, claimed 500,000 lives, and continues to this day.
© All the beauty and the bloodshed/Still from the documentary
Documentary film about an American photographerNan Goldin's “All Beauty and Bloodshed,” which reveals the artist's struggle with the rich so-called Sackler family, won the main Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival. Filmed by investigative journalist Laura Poitras, the film chronicles Goldin's life and her campaign to bring the Sacklers to justice. The latter own the companies Purdue Pharma and Mundipharma and have considerable influence on the pharmaceutical industry, producing addictive and addictive drugs. They are key players in the opioid crisis in the US, Reuters writes about the recognition of the film
Read also: The film “Freedom in Fire” about the war in Ukraine premiered at the Venice Film Festival
It will be recalled that the opioid epidemic in the USA began in the late 1990s, when these substances were prescribed for pain relief, which led to an increase in their overall consumption, the crisis continues to this day. The vast majority of Americans who use prescription opioids do not perceive their use as a sign of addiction. However, in 2021, about 100,300 overdose deaths were registered in the country. From 1999 to 2020, nearly 841,000 people died of drug overdoses, with prescription and illicit opioids responsible for more than 500,000 of these deaths by 2019.
It is only the second time in the 79-year history of the film festival, often seen as a launching pad for Oscar contenders, that the top prize has gone to a documentary. Australian Cate Blanchett won the award for the best female role for her role in the film “TÁR”, and the award for the best male role went to the Irishman Colin Farrell for his role in the tragicomedy “Banshee Inishreen”.
Read also: At the Oscar ceremony » announced a moment of silence as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine
Beauty and the Beast beat out a number of higher-profile rivals, including a quartet of films from US streaming giant Netflix and well-crafted European dramas. The documentary draws on many of Goldin's images from her famous slideshow The Ballad of Sex Addiction, which documented New York City subcultures from 1979-1986.
But Goldin says that her career almost ended in 2014 when she became addicted to Sackler's Purdue Pharma painkiller OxyContin, which was given to her after surgery.
Also read: Documentary about the war in Ukraine and child victims was cut short -letter from the European Film Academy
Recall that the Secklers denied their guilt, but in March said they “sincerely regret” that OxyContin “has unexpectedly become part of the opioid crisis.”
Related video
< /p>
Let us remind you that the historical drama “Shuttle” jointly produced by France and Ukraine was selected for the program of one of the leading film festivals in Great Britain.
