Scratch the Surface

NEW DOCS

What does it mean to have a pretty face? Often, the world can be caught up with the “supermodel,” and this insightful film backtracks to the teen model world in the seventies. Former model Tara Fitzpatrick explores women’s beauty and modeling through both her family (her grandmother, mother and twin sister were all models) and her friends (Brooke Shields and Phoebe Cates were among her “pack”). Especially interesting is the play between model moguls Eileen Ford and John Casablancas. Directed by Fitzpatrick, the film’s strength lies not in its patent critiques of the fashion industry, but in its barely intentional examination of the distortions of gender and identity wrought in the model’s world.

Director

Tara Fitzpatrick

Producer

Mildred Inc. Productions

Release Year

1997

Festival Year

1998

Run Time

71 minutes