Not a Pretty Picture

'Not a Pretty Picture' is an exceptional work of cinema that challenges convention by merging documentary elements with fiction, in a bold attempt to explore diverse forms of expression and find the authenticity of Martha Coolidge's own /b>. The director, who faced sexual abuse during her adolescence, uses this documentary as a tool to not only confront her past trauma, but also to understand the dynamics that lead to such devastating situations from an outside perspective, and to represent a painful reality that could have affected any woman at some point in her life.

Originally released in 1976 and until now unreleased in Spain and other countries, 'Not a Pretty Picture' hits theaters on March 1 under the distribution of Atalante Films, presenting a restored print in 4K. This film takes on special relevance today, marked by the outbreak of the Carlos Vermut case and movements such as #SeAcabó.

With a duration of 83 minutes and produced in the United States, 'Not a Pretty Picture' is a work directed and written by Martha Coolidge, with a cast made up of Reed Birney, Jim Carrington, John Fedinatz, Diana Gold and Amy Wright. The music is provided by Tom Griffith, while the photography is by Don Lenzer and Fred Murphy. The film is a Coolidge Productions production that challenges the limits of conventional cinema and offers a unique and moving experience for the viewer.

It's important to remember that 'Not a Pretty Picture' ultimately focuses on one specific incident: the sexual assault Martha Coolidge suffered in 1962 at the hands of an older classmate during a party. While other documentaries might have been content to remember this event, perhaps through voice-over narration and some images, or even recreating the era, this film transcends those conventions. Already in 1976, Coolidge made the brave and sincere decision to include herself in the plot , creating a hybrid and meta-cinematic work in which she also actively participates.

On the one hand, the film presents fictional scenes that recreate the episode experienced by Coolidge, but it also offers a documentary view that shows the director together with the cast planning each scene. and debating the rape, the way it was filmed and the way the actors interpreted it.