About Face: Supermodels Then and Now

About Face: Supermodels Then and Now is a captivating HBO documentary that takes an in-depth look into the lives of timeless beauty icons from the world of fashion, Influently directed by filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. This enlightening documentary came to light on the silver screens in 2012 and prominently starred Carmen Dell'Orefice, Isabella Rossellini, and Jerry Hall. With an intelligent and empathetic gaze, the film investigates the glamorous and often gruelling world of international modeling, focusing on the stories of some of the industry's most celebrated and influential personalities, including the oldest working model Dell’Orefice, film actress Rossellini and the iconic Texan beauty Jerry Hall.

About Face is a rich tapestry of candid interviews, personal anecdotes, vintage clips and intimate photographs that emotionally unveils the truth behind this shining, yet rigorous profession. The film beautifully navigates the viewer through the models' vibrant careers, their struggles with age and beauty standards, emergent and morphing trends in fashion, shifting perceptions about race and the impact of plastic surgery on the industry. It’s a thought-provoking examination of what it means to be a model, the fleeting nature of beauty, and the ways in which these women have redefined traditional beauty norms throughout their illustrious careers.

Carmen Dell'Orefice, the industry’s eldest working model with a career spanning over six decades, establishes a fascinating narrative center for the film. Elegantly portraying a journey of fashion revolution, she conveys her insights with her characteristic sharp wit and indomitable spirit. Dell'Orefice's graceful candour about challenges of longevity in a youth-centred industry paints a vivid and thought-provoking picture for the audience.

Isabella Rossellini is introduced with an equally compelling narrative thread. As an internationally acclaimed actress and former Lancome face, Rossellini carries us down the memory lane through her multilayered life story flourishing across acting, modelling, and later, as a cosmetic entrepreneur dealing with the beauty industry’s stringent ageist norms. She narrates her experiences with a sense of grace and positivity, reflecting on her past with a heartwarming touch of humility and fierce resilience.

Jerry Hall, the iconic fashion personality and actress, plunges us into the golden era of the 70's supermodels. As the Texan beauty that epitomised an entire era in fashion, Hall captivates the audience with her enthralling anecdotes about the glamour and excess of the period, her rise to stardom, and her firm stand against age-based discrimination in the beauty industry.

The film wonderfully combines the rich visual vocabulary of fashion photography and cinema. The beautifully shot black and white portraits and archival footages are influenced by Greenfield-Sanders' background as a portrait photographer and plays an integral role in visual storytelling. The film basks in the lived-in elegance of these women, as they navigate us through their memories.

About Face is not just a behind-curtain view of the modeling industry, but a touching meditation on beauty, age, and the inevitable march of time. From survival stories of the models amid drug abuse, cosmetic surgeries, and incessant objectification, to their triumphant journeys of defining their own identities and norms of beauty, the film presents a poignant and inspiring reflection of these women's lives and times. The narrative is interspersed with their wry humour and revealing vulnerability, offering warm recognitions of their durability and a mature understanding of the ephemeral aspect of beauty.

In its essence, About Face: Supermodels Then and Now, is a stylish and evocative tribute to some of the most influential women who have not only shaped the fashion industry but also challenged societal norms around beauty and aging. This film isn't just for those interested in fashion—it's for anyone who appreciates depth and resilience. This documentary unveils a touching narrative of collective memoirs and poignant reflections, seamlessly presenting a larger statement on age, culture, and the complex relationship one has with their beauty and body. It's a fascinating exploration, humanising these icons, breaking down the glamorous facades, and allowing us to connect with them in a more intimate, relatable way.