Henri Dauman: Looking Up
Peter Kenneth Jones | US, 2018 | English/French (English subtitles) | Documentary | 86m | DCP | IMDB | Distributor/Sales: House of Film | Festival marketing sample: UKJFF 2019 | Trailer
Description: Henri Dauman’s career as a photojournalist, including a stint at Life magazine, enabled him to capture some of the most iconic celebrity portraits of the postwar period. Born in France to Jewish parents, his father was interred during the Nazi occupation and then deported to Auschwitz. His mother was able to keep him and herself safe and hidden through the war. Soon after liberation, however, she was killed through an accidental poisoning and the young Henri was sent to an orphanage. He emigrated to New York in 1950.
The film follows Henri on a visit to the house where he hid during the war and to openings of a travelling exhibition of his work in France. There are extensive interviews with him, his assistants and photographic exhibition curators. A few brief animated visual sequences illustrate the story of his childhood.
Merits: Dauman’s success in capturing his portraits was due to the force of his personality and his ability to relate to his subjects. Jones demonstrates Dauman’s assertiveness by including numerous off-cuts showing how he wants to control his image in this film.
Rating: Suitable for all audiences.
Programming considerations: This film is already available on general VOD in selected markets.