In 1993, Steven Cantor made a short film called Blood Ties about photographer Sally Mann, who was then embroiled in a controversy over an exhibition entitled Immediate Family—featuring pictures of her three children—that was reviled by critics as being explicit and exploitative. The film—included as a bonus here—went on to earn an Academy Award nomination. Now, Cantor returns with a feature-length portrait of the artist that revisits the earlier episode but mainly concentrates on Mann's latest project, a series of photos on the subjects of death and bodily decomposition, partially inspired by her husband's diagnosis with a form of muscular degeneration. Cantor records Mann's photo shoots at various places associated with death—Civil War battlefields, a site near the artist's Virginia farm where an escaped convict died, and an outdoor forensics laboratory in which corpses are studied as they decompose—while also allowing both Mann and family members ample opportunity to talk about Mann's work. The documentary closes with an account of Mann's new show being abruptly cancelled at a New York gallery, which is interpreted as a sign of the modern art world's inability to deal with provocative subjects. A hagiographic tone permeates What Remains (very little criticism is heard in this overwhelmingly sympathetic portrait), but while hardly providing a balanced assessment of Mann's work, the film does offer viewers the welcome chance to judge for themselves. Additional DVD extras include a gallery featuring three of the artist's photo series, eight deleted scenes, and excerpts from Mann's lecture at a 2003 photojournalism conference. A strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)
What Remains: The Life and Work of Sally Mann
(2006) 80 min. DVD: $29.99. Zeitgeist Films (avail. from most distributors). Volume 23, Issue 3
What Remains: The Life and Work of Sally Mann
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