About

Helmut Berger was once a superstar. The first man to appear on the cover of Vogue. Photographed by Andy Warhol. The muse of Italian filmmaker Luchino Visconti and the star of several of his masterpieces in the 1970s. He was European cinematic glamour incarnate.

Decades later, things have changed. Andreas Horvath’s unflinching documentary finds the actor now living by himself in a ramshackle apartment in Salzburg, his finances depleted and his career in tatters. Unwilling to speak about his own life and legacy, Berger presents an irascible front, while the secrets of his personal life are instead shared by his gossiping housekeeper. Described by John Waters as the best film of 2015, the documentary obliterates any traditional guidelines for filmmaker-subject dynamics as Berger alternatingly berates and attempts to seduce Horvath, while the director’s frustration with his reticent star grows more personal — and even physical. The on-screen conflict continued beyond the production, with Berger unsuccessfully suing the director over his depiction in the film, halting its screenings for many years.

Please note: this film contains scenes of impactful sexual material.

Ages 18+