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High Art
1998 101 min Canada, United States of America R 18+
★6.9
Drama, Romance
Director: Lisa Cholodenko
Trailers
Description
When Syd, a young editor at an influential art magazine, becomes involved with her neighbor, a drug-addicted lesbian photographer, both seek to exploit each other for their respective careers while slowly falling in love with each other.
US Gross:
$1.96M
Worldwide:
$1.93M
Starring
Radha Mitchell
Actor
Ally Sheedy
Actor
Patricia Clarkson
Actor
Awards
Sundance Film Festival 1998
— Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
Sundance Film Festival 1998
— Grand Jury Prize (Drama)
Key opinion
High Art is a character-focused indie drama that explores the intersection of professional ambition, addiction, and romantic awakening within a bohemian subculture. While its deliberate pace and lack of inherently sympathetic characters can feel alienating, it is widely praised for its authentic, understated approach to human relationships.
| Acting | Patricia Clarkson delivers a compelling performance as the washed-up, drug-addicted actress Greta. | |
| Theme | The film avoids mainstream romantic tropes to offer a nuanced, realistic exploration of identity and self-recognition. | |
| Theme | The narrative effectively portrays the complex, often messy paradox between an artist's personal demons and their creative output. | |
| Acting | Radha Mitchell’s subtle, minimalist acting style is appreciated by those who value realism, but viewed as unengaging by those seeking more conventional, overt emotional expression. | |
| Pacing | The slow-burn, contemplative pacing rewards viewers interested in character studies, but is perceived as tedious and dull by those seeking traditional dramatic momentum. | |
| Emotion | The lack of clearly defined, likable protagonists creates an immersive, gritty atmosphere for some, while others find the film emotionally superficial or difficult to connect with. |