How does trauma change a person? Brooke Shields is opening up about her life in the documentary “Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields.” A selection at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, the project offers an open and honest exploration of the heartbreaks as well as the hard-fought wins that shaped the star. Prominent among the subjects tackled are a young Shields’ troubling time as a child actress — extending into further sexualization as a model. This candid project doesn’t shy away from controversy as it elicits discussion about issues facing young women then and now.
The documentary’s official synopsis:
“Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields” is a galvanizing look at actor, model, and icon Brooke Shields as she transforms from a sexualized young girl to a woman discovering her power. Holding a mirror up to a society that objectifies women and girls, her story shows the perils and triumphs of gaining agency in a hostile world.
The film follows Shields through her extraordinary childhood and complex relationship with her mother and manager, Teri Shields. Shields’ professional career began at only 11 months old, working as a child model before starring in Louis Malle’s controversial film “Pretty Baby” at the age of 12. She became the face of the eighties with Calvin Klein jeans ads and leading roles in “The Blue Lagoon” and “Endless Love,” navigating the unrelenting scrutiny of the press and a culture that wanted to commodify her. After defying stereotypes by going to college, Shields re-enters the entertainment industry as an adult, but it isn’t until she begins to trust herself and her instincts that she’s able to find her identity and voice.
Lana Wilson, who helmed the Taylor Swift doc, “Miss Americana,” directs “Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields.” The two-part documentary debuts on Hulu on April 3. Get your first look at the trailer below.
