Product Description: A young woman falls in love with her neighbor a lesbian with a heroin-addicted girlfriend. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 02/08/2005 Starring: Ally Sheedy Patricia Clarkson Run time: 103 minutes Rating: R Director: Lisa Cholodenko
Amazon.com: Syd (Radha Mitchell) is an editor at a painfully pretentious art magazine; by chance, she becomes acquainted with lesbian photographer Lucy (Ally Sheedy) and her weirdo German girlfriend (Patricia Clarkson, in a strange Dietrich-like role). Syd becomes captivated with Lucy and her work and, smelling a career move, offers to feature her in the next issue of the magazine. The two become attracted, but their relationship is fraught with perils--Syd loses her rather square boyfriend, Lucy's girlfriend takes a hike, the avaricious management at the magazine pressures Syd, and, most importantly, the pair begins to travel down the road of heroin addiction. Besides the lesbian theme, High Art addresses such subtexts as what an artist will (or won't) be willing to do for recognition, and what price that recognition carries. High Art is a remarkably honest work, painful at times but understated and thoughtful. It does an excellent job of portraying the heroin-induced torpor of Lucy and her bohemian friends as they lie around and become consumed with the stuff. It's a cautionary tale, a sincere love story, a reflection on the nature of art, and a "lesbian film" for which the lesbianism is integral but not part of an overriding agenda. Sheedy is excellent, as is Mitchell in a very expressive role. It's far from being a feel-good movie, but High Art undeniably has some power behind it that will stick with you past the closing credits. --Jerry Renshaw
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Disturbingly good
Dark story of the end of the life of a reclusive, once-popular photographer (Sheedy). Great acting all around by the key players. Supporting cast could have been better, especially by the druggie friends, ... Read More
Rating: - Potentially a great film-anticlimactic
I had not seen this film, when it was released, but always heard of it. I finally had a chance to view it. Although the characters certainly have a palpable attraction, and the storyline is tragic, not much ... Read More
Rating: - The Best Movie
Oh I love this movie I don't know what else to say but either rent or buy it, it's a real treat.
Rating: - Subtitles not to switch off
Before I learned that there exist codefree DVD-Players, I was looking for a version of High Art, running in Europe, without the disturbingly bright german subtitles, which one can't switch off! I thought to ... Read More
Rating: - lacking in development
This film had great potential but really lacked in the real life situations that one would expect from this kind of film. For the most part I found this film less than entertaining, fair acting, and romance ... Read More
- Potentially a great film-anticlimactic
- The Best Movie
- lacking in development