The Art Star and the Sudanese Twins

Press

“The film, much discussed after its premiere at this year’s Sundance festival and now making the festival rounds, has a stereoscopic quality–one lens revealing fearless determination, the other startling self-absorption.” Charles Koppelman, LA Times Magazine

“A stunning film… operates on multiple levels.” Susan G Cole, NOW Toronto magazine

“The Art Star and the Sudanese Twins wins Best Editing, World Documentary at Sundance!”

“…a brutally honest, remarkably self-critical reflection on foreign adoption that touches unexpectedly on issues of alienation and loneliness.” Carino Chocano, LA Times

“I quickly felt I was in the hands of a master storyteller.” Still in Motion, Canada

“Pietra Brettkelly’s engimatic rendering … is not a straightforward artist’s profile, political commentary or domestic drama, but a poetic fusion of the three.” Peter Debruge, Variety

“Writer director Pietra Brettkelly’s expertly architected melodrama allows the details of this complex story of Western perceptions of the third world, acts of questionable respect in the name of art-making and a critique of an artist as a human being, to unfold at the right moments.” Margot Gerber, Film Threat

“I thought, what a freak I am,” Beecroft says softly, almost a whisper. “But it was really me.” William Booth, Washington Post

“Three and a half out of four stars … a passionate film about a most passionate person.” Jonathan Hickman, einsiders.com

“…worth waiting for. Sundance hasn’t lost its soul.” Andrew O’Hehir, Salon.com

“Director Pietra Brettkelly examines the process of international adoption with scrutiny. “The ‘celebrity adoptions’ don’t show how hard mentally and physically adoption is, and the impact it has on both families,” Brettkelly says. “We just see images of the happy-ever-after scenario.” Joseph V Amodio, Special to Newsday

“Lady Madonna, Children at her Teat.” Greg.org

“Brettkelly’s portrayal of the arrogant see-sawing artist-cum-concerned creative-type is both dizzying and dazzling.” Elliot V. Kotek, Moving Picture Magazine

“…one of my favorites of the fest. For me, “Art Star” will haunt me with images and ideas, as a great work of art — or film– should.” The art stars of Sundance, Glen Helfand, SF360

“The film is fantastically complex, and strikes a tension-filled balance.” Laurie Koh, Films Arts Foundation

“I just love it. She is infuriating and fascinating. I hope HBO or PBS pick it up.” Filmspotting podcast

“..an unmitigated verite doc… bring us closer to an artist’s life, work and vision.” Sarah Keenlyside, Daily Insider Sundance ‘08

“This timely docu fascinates and frustrates.”
By Stephen Farber, Hollywood.com

“Brettkelly offers an unvarnished picture of her subject, peeling away Beecroft’s delusions about her seemingly noble adoption quest.” Peter Debruge, Varieyt

“Director Pietra Brettkelly’s film offers a troubling but even-handed look at the impassioned, willful, and controversial Beecroft.” Glen Helfand, artinfo.com

“Cameras rolling, Brettkelly follows Beecroft over a difficult 16-month period that…. witnesses Beecroft at her most candid moments.” Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

“Brangelina Does Not Star in This Sundance Documentary About Foreign Adoption

“Over the incessant chatter about Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s brood of adopted children and Madonna’s Malawian baby comes this - artist Vanessa Beecroft, known for her live performance works involving nude women, has decided to become mother to Sudanese twins, and a documentary of her efforts will be featured at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival opening next week in Park City, Utah. ” CondeNast Portfolio.com

http://www.latimes.com/features/magazine/la-tm-vanessa4may04,0,563661.story

http://www.nowtoronto.com/movies/story.cfm?content=162775

http://stillinmotion.typepad.com/still_in_motion/2008/04/hot-docs-08-spo.html

http://theenvelope.latimes.com/movies/filmfestivals/sundance2008/env-et-culture25jan25,0,4347525.story

http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/btm/feature/2008/01/24/sundance_wrap/index.html?source=rss&aim=/ent/movies/btm/feature

http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=print_review&reviewid=VE1117935864&categoryid=31

http://www.dane101.com/film/2008/04/09/wff_2008_review_the_art_star_and_the_sudanese_twin

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/23/AR2008012304123.html?nav=emailpage

http://www.latimes.com/search/lat-art_star_juuwi8nc20080118123131,0,1845295.photo

http://www.filmthreat.com/index.php?section=reviews&Id=10497

http://bavc.wordpress.com/2008/02/11/a-few-little-sundance-gems/

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sundance/2008/01/international-p.html#more