MovieChat Forums > That Man: Peter Berlin (2005) Discussion > Peter Berlin hasn´t learn anything from ...

Peter Berlin hasn´t learn anything from life !

posted 18 years ago by tuti1403
12 replies | jump to latest

Nice film though Peter Berlin is a shallow man who thinks that the only thing that matters in life is how you look.

At one point, he declares that "there´s nothing good in growing old"

Sad to see that he hasn´t learn anything from life.

It shows how the extreme importance given to beauty (most of all nowadays) can shake one person´s perception of life and himself.

But Berlin´s cult is interesting so that we can get a glimpse of a decade which was so fascinating: the 70´s and all the revolution in behavior and relationships that it brought.

[–] oilgun 18 years ago

I agree, a very good film, but man, what a fascinatingly vain & self-absorbed person. I didn't realise that the Peter Berlin photographs were pretty much all self-portraits, Mapplethorpe being the only other photographer who was ever allowed to photograph him, so he truly was his own work of art. Also, I was surprised to learn that he lived his life always in character, going about his daily business pretty much dressed the same way he was in the photographs even today at the age of 60!
I loved when he mentions that when people told him that he looked beautiful he would reply and I paraphrase: "Please, that's obvious, tell me something I don't know. Pointing out the obvious is so boring, I wanted to hear something original, something interesting..". Some call him the Greta Garbo of porn and this doc shows us that the nickname is more than appropriate.

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[–] oilgun 18 years ago

Don't be so quick to dismiss Peter Berlin as a vacuous life-waster

I'm sorry if I gave that impression, I certainly don't dismiss him or his art. Sure, I called him vain and self-absorbed but I don't pass judgement. He is his opwn work of art after all.

Before seeing the doc I didn't even know that he did his own photography, I thought he was purely a model. He's obviously a gifted photographer and the personna that he created is fascinating. I also found his homesty quite refreshing.

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[–] oilgun 18 years ago

Good interview, thanks for posting it!

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[–] tightjeansdude 16 years ago

I found the film rather depressing. This so-called icon of the 1970's gay porn genre obviously had no other plans for his future. Did he believe he would be a sex symbol and cruise the streets for the rest of his life? The whole film seems to be about his past, and it's clear that Peter lives in the past, as evident by the walls of his home covered with photos of himself back in the day. Too bad he didn't find some other outlet in which to start a new chapter in his shallow life beyond the sexual images and the porn. Now he is shown as a pathetic old troll sporting the same exact hair style as he did 35 years ago. He admits he is still poor, even asking that viewers send him money towards the end of the film. Peter Berlin is a sad example of what becomes of someone who didn't see a life beyond the carnal, vain and shallow lifestyle in which he lived.

[–] avidagreedy 16 years ago

Peter's life is not a waste and he does have other interests other than having been a self photographed sex icon and porn star.
He leads a very private, full and productive life. He is not an
"old troll"...he still is hot. I know. He's one of my best friends. He's intelligent, fun, funny, has hobbies, many friends and fans and he is very fit, sane and happy. Are you? What have you done with YOUR life to make a mark on this world? Also, where's the documentary about your life? Who are you?

[–] tightjeansdude 16 years ago

what have I done to make a mark on this world? and where's my documentary? Well I'm only half the age Peter is, so the documentary isn't quite ready yet darling.

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