Catch up TV

Episode 01 September 2025

Who are you, Martin Parr? Since the 1970s, Martin Parr has fearlessly held out his unique photographic mirror and given us some of the most extraordinary and unique visual clichés of modern times.\n\nWe follow this tireless adventurer on a road trip, his camera trigger finger always at the ready to capture the smallest details of everyday life. Sometimes serious, often absurd but always playful, his work has been a subject of debate and discussion. His images often amuse and entertain those who witness them, yet he makes us feel slightly uncomfortable, caught between a silent laugh and the frightful realisation of recognising ourselves in his uncompromising portrait of consumerist society.\n\nFeaturing interviews with various individuals who have crossed paths with Martin Parr, including close family, fellow photographers, artists and filmmakers, the documentary offers a dynamic, intimate and well-rounded portrait of the artist. While Martin Parr's work is now showcased globally, his early photography faced challenges and criticism. Why? Perhaps, in retrospect, he was highlighting aspects of class in Britain that were often overlooked. Could it be that provoking discomfort was precisely his intention? Why this use of garish colour, previously reserved for advertising and fashion? \n\nHere, we bring to life Parr's distinctive photographic language and showcase his incredible eye for the absurd. Bright, colourful and saturated, the film takes us into Parr's world. From Bristol, where he lives and has set up his incredible foundation, to the seaside resort of New Brighton, where he returns with us after 40 years to reshoot his most famous work, The Last Resort, I Am Martin Parr is a portrait of an extraordinary photographer who revolutionized contemporary photography.

Source: BBC 4