All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022)

Directed by: Laura Poitras

Nan Goldin has LIVED A DAMN LIFE.

Seek no further than the sweeping portrait from daring documentarian Laura Poitras (Citizenfour) that stormed the Venice Film Festival winning its top prize over powerhouse films The Whale, The Banshees of Inisherin, and even Tar.

Aside from its awards prowess, this film serves as a hybrid biography of Goldin’s personal experiences, artistic inspirations, and journey through the queer underground of 70’s-90’s grunge New York City AND a personal look at Goldin’s current activism against the Sachtler family’s direct involvement in the opiod crisis.

At first, I struggled with finding the connecting tissues between such large and epic themes & focuses, but found myself lost in the tragedy both past and present in the acclaimed artist’s long life and storied life. Her founding of non-profit PAIN & the many organized protests at various art institutions were seemingly just the continuation of the type of activism coursing through Goldin’s veigns.

Nan Goldin at Tin Pan Alley in NYC

As a piece of cinema, the documentary works in an inventive way too. It depicts the major moments through chapters that correlate with some of Goldin’s major works, even holding on specific photos such vulnerable moments as Nan’s sex life, injuries from domestic abuse, old friends killed during the AIDS crisis, and old childhood family photos. In fact, her entire motivations and attitude stem from such a traumatic experience in the struggles and death of her older sister at a young age. She explores her parent’s inability to take any responsibility or in some moments even acknowledge the tragedy.

There are also tense moments in the more recent story lines involving Perdue Pharmacy and the Sachtler family who profited from pushing such dangerous and addictive drugs onto unsuspecting patients. We meet many survivors and victims of opiods thoughout the film and it culminates in a Zoom hearing in Perdue’s bankruptcy court that is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

I found the ending a beautiful and poignant reminder of the importance of connection and finding purpose while also managing the many tragedies we are bound to face in this world. I learned a lot about Nan Goldin I didn’t know before and found myself appreciating her story and activism. She and her friends changed the world 50 years ago and continue to impact communities in a positive way now.

Resources for NY Drug Harm Reduction: https://onpointnyc.org