Taciturn American Lee Miller (Kate Winslet) is about to be interviewed in her London home. She questions why she should allow the interview to take place and then agrees on the condition that she can ask the interviewer some hard questions of her own. That (apparently) is Lee Miller to a tee – unapologetic, surly, determined, driven and not suffering fools gladly. Ellen Kuras’ biopic Lee takes a deep dive into the world of one of the most famous war photographers of all time.
Mind you, her real story didn’t come to light until her son unearthed the evidence. In her younger years she was a model and a muse. She liked to drink, have sex and take photographs. She was a free spirit who enjoyed the company of like-minded friends in the south of France. That was where she met and fell for a British art dealer and artist Roland Penrose (Alexander Skasgard), who was besotted by her.
Living with Penrose in London, she sought and eventually got a job as a photographer and later a photojournalist for British Vogue magazine. That is how she came to forge a friendship with its editor, Audrey Withers (Andrea Riseborough). World War II was beckoning and Miller became Vogue’s war correspondent. A feminist, she broke down barriers and covered events such as the London Blitz, the liberation of Paris and the horrors of concentration camps at Buchenwald and Dachau. Lee is her warts-and-all tale of grit and endurance, including an experience with Hitler. She is painted as a tough drinker and heavy smoker, who barges through life.
The screenplay by Liz Hannah, Marion Hume and John Collee is based on Lee’s son Anthony Penrose’s book The Lives of Lee Miller.
Kate Winslet, who also serves as one of the film’s producers, does a fine job getting inside Lee’s skin. She plays her as an uncompromising force of nature who will not be tamed. Josh O’Connor portrays her patient interviewer, someone intent on getting to the nub of the truth. Andrea Riseborough is stoic and respectful as the British Vogue editor. As Roland, Alexander Skarsgard indulges Lee’s brusque nature and runs with it. Another key figure in her life was Life magazine photographer Davy Scherman, to whom Andy Samberg gives voice. On the battlefield, the pair forms an impenetrable partnership. As the film shows it, he admires her tenacity and pluck. The atrocities the pair witness are quite overwhelming. Playing smaller roles are Marion Cotillard and Noemie Merlant as two of Lee’s dear friends.
Cinematographer turned director (who makes her narrative feature debut with Lee) Ellen Kuras brings a keen eye for detail to a compelling production. The focus is rightly on Kate Winslet, who delivers a powerful portrait of a woman of substance.
Alex First
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Alex First is a Melbourne based journalist and communications specialist. He contributes to The Blurb on film and theatre.