Acknowledging the mix of greatness and failures for photographer Lee Miller turns her story into much more than a worshipful biopic. Writers Liz Hannah, Marion Hume, and John Collee turn Lee into a complicated piece that explores how a bohemian fashion model turned neglectful mother eventually gained recognition as one of World War II’s greatest documentarian photographers. Moving back and forth in time as a writer questions the dying photographer about her background and motivations, the movie Lee captures the era when Hitler first seemed too outrageous to prove any real threat. Director Ellen Kuras puts her camera to good use amid period settings, sometimes inserting documentary footage but benefitting most of all from the actress in the title role, Kate Winslet. Willing to let warts show and never one to hold back, Winslet homes in
with the focus of a laser beam, not just with action shots but in her narration, a harsh American accent from a throat that seems lacerated by too many cigarettes and bad experiences. Those experiences led to a significant accomplishment as Lee heads into horror of a war zone. Among the first to document Nazi atrocities, Lee’s skill took more than figuring out the best F-stop and shutter speed. Even during relative peace—as one-well-written scene shows—Lee thrives on the unrest she stirs by accurately homing in on the essence of an individual, perfectly willing to offend and upset him. Such insight led to her genius, and portraying that rocky path turns Lee into a hard-hitting film that resonance truth.
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