Reviews

Reviews

“Stirring Portrait.” Fan Quarterly

“Powerful.” The Film Stage

“A provocative documentary that looks into a dark, seldom-seen segment of the modeling industry.” The Gulf Today

“This ex-model, Ashley Arbaugh, is one of the year’s most intriguing doc characters, one I’d love to see get a spin-off reality series where she’s paired up with Tabloid’s Joyce McKenna. Girl Model is the film I keep finding reasons to want to revisit, rewatch and implore friends to see as soon as it’s distributed.” Movies.com

David Redmon and Ashley Sabin’s engrossing documentary provides access to a pitiless niche of the fashion industry, but it’s arguably more fascinating in its depiction of the recruiters than their discoveries.” Hollywood Reporter

“Eerie, visceral horror haunts every scene.” Indiewire (Girl Model @ top of Indiewire TIFF Poll)

“A must-see movie as intriguing as it is disturbing.” Marie Claire

“Superb documentary.” Popmatters

“Girl Model makes you wonder about every beautiful woman who’s ever stared out from a publication, poster, or billboard, looking sophisticated and self-assured. Could the real person behind that image be a hungry, homesick 13-year-old who never got a dime for her work?” Slant Magazine

“A fascinating look at the stark, staring mad world of modelling.” The Times

“Visceral horror that haunts every scene. Girl Model portrays a business defined by inherent corruption.” Toronto Review

“Redmon and Sabin have crafted a revealing and engrossing film.  Everyone — particularly young people (both female and male) who aspire to be a model should see it.” Toronto Verve

“A very chilling tale on the loss of childhood to false hopes and dreams.” Triplew.me

“A haunted glimpse into exploited youth.” Variety

“Shows a seedy, unregulated side to the modeling business.” Vive Magazine

Educational Reviews

Notable Video of 2013-American Library Association

Video Librarian 2012 Best Documentary

“This 2013 Notable Videos for Adults selection offers a disturbing look at a dark industry, and viewers’ hearts will go out to Nadya and Madlen, both of whom are sent home owing the agency money.” Booklist

“I highly recommend this film for library collections in school, public and academic libraries.”  Educational Media Reviews Online

“This film presents a very ugly look at an industry based on beauty. Appropriate for a wide variety of viewers.” Library Journal

“And the value of Girl Model is that is doesn’t let you forget teens like Nadya, may never let you, actually. Definitely suitable for secondary students and clocking in at an efficient 77 minutes, Girl Model is succinct but hardly breezy. It’s not trying to be.” School Library Journal

“An American modeling scout travels to Siberia to secure models for the Japanese market in this revealing documentary from filmmakers David Redmon and Ashley Sabin. Recommended.” Video Librarian

Sabin and Redmon make a powerful argument via the juxtaposition of visuals and the creation of an overwhelmingly claustrophobic, at times unctuous, atmosphere.” Visual Studies

Other Press

Austin Chronicle Review

Best for Film Review

Center for Social Media Review

Cine Vue Review

Contact Music Review

Critic’s Notebook

Directors Notes Review

Don’t Panic Interview

Down With Film Review

EyeforFilm Review

Fashion TV Interview

Female First Review

Filmmaker Magazine Interview

Filmmaker Magazine Review

Filmoria Review

Films, Far from Home Review

Front Room Cinema Review

Frontrowreviews Review

Gulf News Interview

Hollywood Global Review

Huffington Post UK Article

Hunger TV Interview

Independent Review

Little White Lies Review

Morning Star Online Review

Movie Farm Review

MovieManDan Review

Oxford Times Review

Petit Poix Review

Radio 2 Interview

Real Screen Interview

Screenjabber Review

Slackerwood Review

Slate Review

Smells Like Screen Spirit Review

Sound Bite Culture Review

Subtitled Online Review

Sundance Channel Review

The Arts Desk

The Fourth Wall Review

The Guardian Review

The Guardian DVD Review

The Irish Times Review

The List Review

The Models Handbook Review

TimeOut London Review

Times Colonist Review

TNT Interview

Toronto Standard Article

Women’s Wear Daily article

Yahoo Movies Interview

Zachary Barowitz Blog