The Disappearance Of My Mother

The Disappearance of My Mother, released in 2019, is an acclaimed documentary that explores the intricate dynamics of a mother-son relationship against the backdrop of fame, the fashion industry, radical feminism, and the desire for privacy.

The film introduces us to Benedetta Barzini, a fascinating figure who in her lifetime has transcended numerous roles – a renowned model, a feminist activist, a journalist, and a university professor. However, her most challenging role is perhaps as a subject of this documentary, which is directed by her son, Beniamino Barrese. The title of the film references Barzini's expressed desire to disappear from all forms of media and public life, in stark contrast to her early years in the glamorous world of fashion.

The documentary does more than simply recounting Barzini's life. It also becomes a profound and often distressing exploration on the nature of visibility and anonymity. The 1960s saw Barzini rise to stardom as a supermodel, whose stunning beauty was captured on the covers of Vogue and other high-profile fashion magazines. She was a muse to legendary photographers like Irving Penn and Richard Avedon, and a favorite of Diana Vreeland. But the glitz and glamour of her modeling career stood in stark contrast to her personal ideology and beliefs about the nature of beauty, fashion, and women's roles in society.

Barzini, also a well-known Italian Marxist and feminist, uses her voice to criticize the fashion industry which she regards as a system focused on exploiting women. She sees it as an arena perpetuating distorted body image norms and objectifying female bodies. Her distaste for the superficiality of the fashion industry and its oppressive gaze on women becomes even more clear as the film progresses, exhibiting her strong desire for personal liberty and freedom from the objectifying lens of the media.

However, it's the complex relationship between Barzini and her son, Beniamino Barrese - who also happens to be the filmmaker - that forms the emotional core of the documentary. Son, in his attempt to document his mother's life and ideologies, frequently captures her on camera, despite her explicit wishes not to be photographed or filmed. This intrusiveness is met with Barzini's strong resistance and frequent protestations, opening up conversations about consent, personal boundaries, and the ethics of documentary filmmaking.

In a fascinating twist, iconic American model and actress Lauren Hutton enters the narrative. Her friendship with Barzini offers an intriguing counterpoint to the barbed mother-son dynamic. Hutton’s approach to the fashion industry and her perspectives on aging and beauty introduce an interesting contrast to Barzini’s antagonistic views. This adds another layer to the multifaceted exploration of the interplay of fame, gender, beauty norms, and personal philosophies.

The film painstakingly emphasises the extent to which Barzini wishes to escape the public eye and live out her life in solitude. And yet, paradoxically, she is caught in her son's ambitious endeavor to document her life, further demonstrating the ongoing tension between the personal and the public, the seen and the unseen.

The Disappearance of My Mother is a visually-moving documentary. Well-composed shots and sequences mirror the beauty seen in fashion photography, perhaps as a nod to Barzini's illustrious past. However, its relevance extends beyond its aesthetic appeal and into a significant discourse on modern perceptions of beauty, media's gaze, and the imbalance of power in gender relations.

This documentary is a compelling exploration of a woman's pursuit of obscurity in a world that prizes visibility. Through his lens, Barrese grapples with big, uneasy questions around personal autonomy, the ethics of documentary filmmaking, the suffocating prying nature of the public eye and the drastic transformations in a person who has lived through several eras.

With extensive use of archival footage blended with present-day interactions, the film weaves a complex and thought-provoking narrative that centers on Barzini's intriguing character, her life filled with paradoxes and contradictions, and her vehement struggle against the objectifying power of the camera lens.

In essence, The Disappearance of My Mother is a poignant cinematic experience that bridges the gap between fascinating personal history and larger societal discourses, while revealing the various complexities and contradictions of an unorthodox but fiercely independent woman's life. Through its multilayered narrative, the film resonates profoundly with viewers, challenging their perceptions and encouraging introspective discussions long after the credits roll.