Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures

Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures.

released in 2001, offers an expansive portrait of the legendary director through the lens of someone who knew him best Jan Harlan, Kubrick’s longtime assistant and brother-in-law. The documentary traces Kubrick’s evolution as a filmmaker and examines the creative force behind some of cinema’s most influential works.

Running 142 minutes, the film is structured into a series of focused, 15-minute chapters. Each segment delves into the production of one of Kubrick’s films, supplemented by additional sections chronicling his early life and personal history.

Harlan assembles an impressive roster of interviewees, drawing on many of Kubrick’s closest collaborators. Among those featured are Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Keir Dullea, Arthur C. Clarke, Malcolm McDowell, Peter Ustinov, Jack Nicholson, composer György Ligeti, and Matthew Modine. Their recollections are paired with insights from filmmakers who credit Kubrick as a formative influence, including Woody Allen, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Sydney Pollack.

The documentary also showcases rare archival material, from family home videos to behind-the-scenes footage captured on Kubrick’s sets. Notably, it includes clips from Fear and Desire, the director’s seldom-seen debut feature.

A Life in Pictures was released on DVD on October 23, 2007. It later appeared as part of Stanley Kubrick: The Essential Collection and the Stanley Kubrick: Limited Edition Collection, both issued on DVD and Blu-ray on May 31, 2011. The film was also included in a multi-title Kubrick box set released on January 22, 2008. Watch the full documentary below