The B-Side: Elsa Dorfman's Portrait Photography

2016

Action / Documentary

3
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Certified Fresh 97% · 61 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 68% · 500 ratings
IMDb Rating 6.7/10 10 886 886

Please enable your VPΝ when downloading torrents

If you torrent without a VPΝ, your ISP can see that you're torrenting and may throttle your connection and get fined by legal action!

Get Guard VPΝ

Plot summary

Portrait photographer Elsa Dorfman found her medium in 1980: the larger-than-life Polaroid Land 20x24 camera. For the next 35 years, she captures the 'surfaces' of those who visit her studio: families, Beat poets, rock stars, and Harvard notables. As pictures begin to fade and her retirement looms, Dorfman gives Errol Morris an inside tour of her backyard archive.

Director

Errol Morris Photo
Errol Morris

Top cast

Joni Mitchell Photo
Joni Mitchell as Self
Bob Dylan Photo
Bob Dylan as Self
Allen Ginsberg Photo
Allen Ginsberg as Self
Jonathan Richman Photo
Jonathan Richman as Self
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
698.04 MB
1280*576
English 2.0
R
us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 16 min
Seeds ...
1.4 GB
1920*864
English 5.1
R
us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 16 min
Seeds 2

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by reuben m 8 / 10

I saw this delightful little film at our

I saw this delightful little film at our local "art house" cinema this weekend. It's a light, airy but entertaining work from Errol Morris, who apparently is actually a friend of the film's subject, Elsa Dorfman. Elsa Dorfman is a photographer of some renown, who truly carved a niche for herself when she began doing portraits on the amazing large format Polaroids. She's now staring retirement in the face because Polaroid is no longer making the film she needs. Morris has caught her at a time of looking back, of reflection on her career and life. She's a bit melancholy but also cheerful. Dorfman is just an interesting subject to spend time with. She's a delightfully quirky lady who offers refreshingly honest and unpretentious observations about art (mostly hers). This is not a philosophical film...it's more about capturing the life and enthusiasms of a well-known, if not quite famous, photographer. That she happened to be great friends with many Beat artists, particularly Ginsberg, is an added plus, because she has some delightful stories to share. This is an easy, conversation movie about art, an artist, and the life of an artist. It's not glamorous, but it also doesn't wallow in "oh, the suffering one must endure for art." Dorfman is a practical person. Morris gently prods her for insights...but there's nothing here that's too biting or cutting. We get to see lots of her portraits, and many are indeed delightful. This was a feel-good movie...brisk and breezy and nice to look at. I do very much recommend it.
Reviewed by R T 4 / 10

Tried to like this one but couldn’t see

Tried to like this one but couldn’t see the appeal of the photography or anything compelling about the story.
Reviewed by R T 3 / 10

I usually love documentaries like this, but found

I usually love documentaries like this, but found this one lacking in depth and the anecdotes related within of no interest or note.
Read more IMDb reviews

No comments yet

Be the first to leave a comment