The True Meaning of Pictures (2003)
Film:
DVD:

Produced by Jennifer Baichwal & Nick de Pencier
Directed by: Jennifer Baichwal
Featuring Shelby Lee Adams

Features:

• Photo gallery
  
• Filmmaker biographies
  
• Shelby Lee Adams biography
  
• Resource guide
  
• Trailers
  

Released by Docurama
Rating: NR; although some disturbing images
Region: 1
Anamorphic: N/A; appears in its orignal 1.33:1 format

My Advice: Rent it.

Shelby Lee Adams is a photographer with a mission. A native Kentuckian, Adams has spent his time taking photos of family life in the Appalachians--specificially, the poor families of Appalachia that are referred to by such colorful names as "rednecks" and "hillbillies." Adams doesn't necessarily document what he sees--as some of his photos are quite posed--but he ostensibly states that he simply wants to document the reality of life in that region, and that he's drawn to photograph those who are suffering.

I've got to admit, this is a very interesting documentary about a very controversial photographer. When going out to grab a link at Amazon for one of his books to place on this review, I very quickly saw a customer review that praised him and two that basically accused him of selling out his southern heritage to make a quick buck. Indeed, Baichwal makes an interesting choice to juxtapose an opening sequence of Adams' photographs with a gallery showing in which one woman can be seen to smirk at what she's just witnessed in one of the stills. This sets the stage for the debate to play out over the course of the seventy-one minutes running time.

Baichwal provides an even hand when presenting all the information--she gives equal time to Adams' detractors as well as letting Adams' voice defend himself. She does this through talking head interviews, more of Adams' photos and video footage that Adams shot of his subjects. Since the debate is whether Adams is a documentarian or an artist setting up shots, as it were, I found the most interesting insight from a critic who stated that the work exists, essentially, in an uneasy space between the two.

As far as extras go, there is a gallery of photos for behind the scenes stuff, biographies of the filmmakers as well as one of Adams, and the prerequisite trailers. For anyone interested in photography, Adams' work, or Appalachian life and its portrayal, it's definitely worth picking up.