Director Anthony Mandler–who’s repped by Believe Media for spots in the U.S. and Europe and continues to helm music videos under his own banner, Black Hand Cinema–has seen his documentary Into the Unknown make its stateside debut last week (6/13) on Showtime after premiering in the U.K. on BBC One. The documentary chronicle soccer superstar David Beckham and three of his best friends as they sojourn to Brazil for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. One of Beckham’s mates is Mandler who artfully captures the unforgettable journey.
Director Mandler’s 90-minute film starts with their send-off in Rio. Traveling by motorbike and boat, and guided by locals, Beckham and friends ride deep into the Amazon rainforest, ending up with the remote Yanonami tribe. Along the way, the superstar muses on family, friends, and the game that made him a household name.
Mandler gives viewers a candid glimpse of Beckham’s road to self-discovery from the unique position of a friend and confidant sharing in the adventure. Scenes reveal a different side to Beckham as they venture deeper into the stunning landscape and farther away from the glare of the limelight. By the end of the trip, we see him liberated by the complete anonymity found in the Yanonami village.
On the music video front, Mandler is known for his work with Rihanna, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Lana del Rey and Taylor Swift. Recent years have seen Mandler diversify into the ad arena with global campaigns for Lexus, Cadillac, Almay, Max Factor, 1800 Tequila, Nike, and Samsung.
View the trailer here.
