Beyond the Gaze: Jule Campbell's Swimsuit Issue

2024

Action / Documentary

2
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Certified Fresh 100% · 10 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 100%
IMDb Rating 7.8/10 10 71 71

Director

Jill Campbell Photo
Jill Campbell

Top cast

Cheryl Tiegs Photo
Cheryl Tiegs as Self
Christie Brinkley Photo
Christie Brinkley as Self
Tyra Banks Photo
Tyra Banks as Self
Paulina Porizkova Photo
Paulina Porizkova as Self
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB 2160p.WEB.x265
991.36 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 47 min
Seeds 4
1.99 GB
1920*1080
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 47 min
Seeds 11
4.81 GB
3840*2160
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 47 min
Seeds 4

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by Lolarobot 9 / 10

Is it beyond the gaze? Great documentary!

This documentary was exceptionally well done and, in my opinion, a 10 out of 10.What stood out most to me was the subject herself. She was able to penetrate a male-dominated industry and remain strong, intelligent, and self-aware while doing so. I appreciated that she spoke openly about her personal life and that the film acknowledged she is still alive at 95. The photographs she kept added depth and authenticity to the story and made the history feel lived rather than distant.I especially loved the focus on the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. That era reflected real artistry, intentional styling, and natural beauty. The sets and visuals felt thoughtful and elegant in a way that feels largely lost today. I do wish the documentary had spent more time exploring her relationship with her husband, as that part of her life felt important but underdeveloped.Where the documentary weakened for me was in the later shift away from artistry toward a more politically driven "anything goes" approach. While representation matters, abandoning standards altogether felt sad and took away from what made Sports Illustrated culturally distinctive in the first place.As a radical feminist, I found the film both validating and honest. It clearly highlighted inequities that still exist today, including the male gaze, financial discrimination, and misogyny. Being told you do not deserve a raise because your husband has money is something many women still recognize. These dynamics have not disappeared.At the same time, the documentary does not avoid an uncomfortable truth. No matter how it is reframed, it is still women in bathing suits being sold largely to men, and that tension remains unresolved. I respected the film for not pretending otherwise.Overall, this was a beautiful, intelligent, and necessary documentary with compelling stories and a strong historical perspective.
Reviewed by smithnumber 6 / 10

This hasn't had much publicity and it's a shame because Jule Campbell helped create striking, sexy and playful images of women for Sport Illustrated, a magazine long since past its prime in a world in which magazines no longer matter.Jule features heavily and the scenes with her family and coming to terms with cognitive and physical decline, while touching, but familiar to anyone with ageing parents. This doco really comes to life when it focuses on the models and photographers, with great footage from the past, as well as interviews with some of the more popular models. While there is the now standard talk of 'empowerment', the creators do not shy away from negative perceptions of scantily clad women as a commodity and some of the awful situations models were placed in at the time. Jule also talks frankly about her misgivings for putting her career first when it came to her young son. It made me wish these topics could've been covered in more depth.While Jule has led an interesting life, she doesn't translate into a particularly interesting person in this doco, especially when surrounded by dynamic historical imagery and social debate. I also felt there was also a bit too much exposition about what a trailblazer she was. Not everything has to be repeated and I believe her work speaks for itself.It is true that her vision was responsible for creating images that really did shape a generation of men and women, for better or for worse. Her strength, then and in this doco shines behind the camera, rather than being in the spotlight.
Reviewed by gregorygerhard 10 / 10

Amazing Gaze!

Highly recommend this film. A unique in -depth and complex exploration of the professional and personal life of the woman who created the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. The story layers and never before seen footage far exceeded my expectations. With complex questions and no easy answers, this doc brings insight, depth, surprise and yes, tears. A must see for not only women of all ages, but for men who should understand female empowerment.
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