High Art (1998)

Director:

Lisa Cholodenko

Writer:

Lisa Cholodenko (writer)

Release Date:

12 June 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

a story of ambition, sacrifice, seduction and other career moves.

Plot:

A young female intern at a small magazine company becomes involved with a drug-addicted lesbian photographer, both of whom seek to exploit each other for their respective careers, while slowly falling in love with each other.

Plot Keywords:

Magazine | Photographer | Assistant Editor | Lesbian | Drugs

Awards:

7 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Radha Mitchell	...	Syd
Gabriel Mann	...	James
Charis Michelsen	...	Debby
David Thornton	...	Harry
Anh Duong	...	Dominique
Ally Sheedy	...	Lucy Berliner
Patricia Clarkson	...	Greta
Helen Mendes	...	White Hawk
Bill Sage	...	Arnie
Tammy Grimes	...	Vera
Cindra Feuer	...	Delia
Anthony Ruivivar	...	Xander
Elaine Tse	...	Zoe
Rudolf Martin	...	Dieter
Laura Ekstrand	...	Waitress

Also Known As:

L'art interdit (Canada: French title) (TV title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality, pervasive drug use and language.

Runtime:

101 min | Colombia:87 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Australia:MA | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | New Zealand:R18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

391 Productions

Trivia:

The character of Lucy Berliner (Ally Sheedy) was based on Nan Goldin's life and work.

Quotes:

Lucy's mother: What did you do to yourself? C'mon, tell me! What kind of problem?
Lucy: I don't know. It's not really a problem. It's more of an issue.
Lucy's mother: You just said a problem. Is it a problem? Now it's an issue. Is it a problem or an issue?
Lucy: Both. I have a love issue, and a drug problem. Or maybe I have a love problem, and a drug issue. I don't know.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema (2006)

Soundtrack:

Fools

A hothouse flower of a movie; it finally gives Ally Sheedy a three-dimensional role...

Hard, tough, occasionally dream-like drama involving a drug-abusing lesbian photographer who's currently on "hiatus"; lured back into the professional world by a pretty art-magazine gopher, she finds herself in the middle of an affair. Emotionally intense movie is sharp and focused, though hurt by a puzzling finish. Ally Sheedy's award-winning performance as the shutterbug is one of her finest. It took a long time for Sheedy to reach the point where she could appear in a film like this and not seem out of place; her acting is getting more refined with age, and her brave turn here appears to put her juvenile romps (like, say, "Short Circuit") to bed. Radha Mitchell is also very good as the post-teen who falls for her. Gripping, moving film. *** from ****