Look Away (2021 film)

Look Away is a 2021 British documentary film about the sexual abuse of young girls in the rock music industry. The film is directed by Sophie Cunningham and Ben Steele, and produced by Sky Documentaries.

Look Away
Directed bySophie Cunningham
Ben Steele
Produced by
  • Sophie Cunningham
  • Sarah Foudy
  • Cheryl Hockey
  • Darren Kemp
  • Sarah Lambert
Starring
Music byNainita Desai
Release date
  • 13 September 2021 (2021-09-13)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The film's title is derived a track of the same name on Iggy Pop's 1996 album Naughty Little Doggie, which is a "tribute" to one of the most famous "baby groupies" on Sunset Strip in the 1970s, Sable Starr.[1] The track of the same name mentions in its lyrics that Pop slept with Starr when she was 13,[2] with none of the reviews of the album addressing the lyrics.[3]

Look Away is built around extensive interviews with Kari Krome, the Runaways' bass guitarist Jackie Fuchs, and Julia Holcomb. The documentary describes several rapes and other sexual abuse, including a detailed account of the alleged rape of Jackie Fuchs by her band's then-manager Kim Fowley. It also tells the story of the relationship between Julia Holcomb and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, and offers interviews of other people with experiences of sexual abuse in the United States rock scene in the 70s and 80s.[1]

According to Cunningham, the purpose of the film "is not necessarily about seeking justice in the legal sense, but having a voice – and trying to instigate change. Although we are focusing on a certain era in this film, the music industry is still functioning in a very, very similar way."[4]

Reception

Uncut rated the film 3.5 stars out of 5, while The Telegraph, The Guardian and the Financial Times rated it 4 stars out of 5.[5]

The film was nominated for Broadcast Digital Award for Best Documentary Programme,[6] and the director Sophie Cunningham was nominated in the Best Emerging Talent category in BAFTA Craft Awards 2022 for the film.[7][5]

After the film was nominated by BAFTA, it was discussed on Instagram by Courtney Love, where she supported some of the claims made, commenting that Steven Tyler also adopted another 13-year-old girl in a similar fashion.[8]

References
  1. Mangan, Lucy (13 September 2021). "Look Away review – horrifying stories of abuse at the hands of male rock stars". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  2. Feay, Suzy (10 September 2021). "Look Away examines sexual abuse in the music business". ft.com. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  3. Singh, Anita (13 September 2021). "Look Away, review: could this be the music industry's #MeToo reckoning?". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  4. Peplow, Gemma (21 September 2021). "Steven Tyler, Axl Rose and 'lots and lots of others': Rock stars and the abuse hidden in plain sight". Sky News. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  5. "Look Away". abacus media rights. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  6. "Broadcast Digital Awards Shortlist 2022". Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  7. "Bafta Awards Search: Look Away". Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  8. Ozden, Elif (5 April 2022). "Courtney Love Targets Axl Rose, Steven Tyler, And Jimmy Page For Underage Affairs". rockcelebrities.net. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
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