The B-Side: Elsa Dorfman's Portrait Photography (2016)

A look at the life and work of photographer Elsa Dorfman.

Director:

Errol Morris

Star:

Elsa Dorfman

Cast

Credited cast:
Elsa Dorfman	...	Self

Storyline

Portrait photographer Elsa Dorfman found her medium in 1980: the larger-than-life Polaroid Land 20x24 camera. For the next thirty-five years she captured the "surfaces" of those who visited her Cambridge, Massachusetts 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.

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Plot Keywords:

photographer | 

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Taglines:

Elsa Dorfman's Portrait Photography

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Genres:

Documentary

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some graphic nude images and brief language

Did You Know?

Quotes

Elsa Dorfman: The camera is like a fork or a spoon. It's an instrument you eat your soup with. It's not the soup.

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Soundtracks

Because Her Beauty Is Raw And Wild

• Jonathan Richman

User Reviews

Looking Back

A peacefully satisfying and nicely edited off-camera interview which reveals the life and life's work of a portrait photographer, most of whose work was uniquely captured using one of the 5 (or so) huge 20x24 inch Polaroid cameras. Her portrait sittings consisted of two poses, and having lovingly saved the print not chosen/purchased by each client, she reflects on these 'b- side' but powerful images beginning in the early 70's of everyday people, a few of the famous, and many of herself and her family.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 June 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

The B-Side: Elsa Dorfman's Portrait Photography

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,035, 2 July 2017

Gross USA:

$125,227

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$125,227

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fourth Floor Productions, Moxie Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min

Color:

Color