Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus (2006)

Turning her back on her wealthy, established family, Diane Arbus falls in love with Lionel Sweeney, an enigmatic mentor who introduces Arbus to the marginalized people who help her become one of the most revered photographers of the twentieth century.

Director:

Steven Shainberg

Writers:

Erin Cressida Wilson, Patricia Bosworth (book)

Stars:

Nicole Kidman, Robert Downey Jr., Ty Burrell

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicole Kidman	...	Diane Arbus
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Lionel Sweeney
Ty Burrell	...	Allan Arbus
Harris Yulin	...	David Nemerov
Jane Alexander	...	Gertrude Nemerov
Emmy Clarke	...	Grace Arbus
Genevieve McCarthy	...	Sophie Arbus
Boris McGiver	...	Jack Henry
Marceline Hugot	...	Tippa Henry
Mary Duffy	...	Althea
Emily Bergl	...	Allan's New Assistant
Lynn-Marie Stetson	...	Fiona (Naked Girl) (as Lynn Marie Stetson)
Gwendolyn Bucci	...	Dominatrix
Christina Rouner	...	Lois
Matt Servitto	...	Handsome Client

Storyline

In 1958, in New York City, the upper class Diane Arbus is a frustrated and lonely woman with a conventional marriage with two daughters. Her husband is a photographer sponsored by the wealthy parents of Diane, and she works as his assistant. When Lionel Sweeney, a mysterious man with hypertrichosis (a.k.a. werewolf syndrome, a disease that causes excessive body hair), comes to live in the apartment in the upper floor, Diane feels a great attraction for him and is introduced to the world of freaks and marginalized people, falling in love with Lionel.

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Plot Keywords:

photographer | hypertrichosis | hair | freak | werewolf | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Mystery | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for graphic nudity, some sexuality and language

Details

Official Sites:

Metropolitan Films [fr] Picturehouse

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 2006 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Fur

Filming Locations:

East 54th Street Recreation Center, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$16,800,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$28,815 (USA) (10 November 2006)

Gross:

$220,914 (USA) (15 December 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Edward R. Pressman Film, River Road Entertainment, Iron Films (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Steven Shainberg's uncle, Lawrence, was a close friend of Diane Arbus.

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Goofs

One of the negatives that Mr. Arbus is developing is a Kodak T-MAX 400, which was not available in 1958.

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Quotes

Diane Arbus: Why did you throw down the key?
Lionel Sweeney: You looked like you needed to come up to my place.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Worst of 2006 (2007)

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Soundtracks

"Tangerine"
Performed by Ben Webster & Coleman Hawkins
Written by Johnny Mercer and Victor Schertzinger
Published by Famous Music, LLC
Courtesy of The Verve Music Group
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

It touched me deeply

I saw Fur this afternoon. I went to the 1:30 pm matinée and we were only three in the theater. That's OK… I felt like it was a private showing. From the very start of the making this film, the whole story got my attention, more than any other. It wasn't simply an opportunity to see Robert work – it was my kind of film. I love the unusual, the weird, the unique and all of these elements were in this film. When Lionel tells Diane that he's "been waiting for a real freak" I knew just what he meant. Diane has been forbidding her own self to be true and she suffers from it. Lionel is her liberator, it's a love story of the most spiritual kind since "…there are only two sins; the first is to interfere with the growth of another human being, and the second is to interfere with one's own growth." I thought the chemistry between Nicole and Robert was right on, both of them being seekers of truth. If you believe that the eyes are windows to your soul then you will be unable to take your eyes off the screen. Their journey is in their eyes – you see in them the curiosity, the fascination, the fear, the pain, the joy, the love and finally the liberation of their souls. When the photograph is finally taken, Robert has your heart in his hands. If any of you have gone through that "soul transformation" experience, you will recognize it. If not, it's still a great fairy tale.

I love the sets, the music and the photography because they served the story so well. And all I have to say about the love scene is Oh. My. God. This is a film I want to see again, and again.

As for the mix reviews, maybe, just maybe, if they had not used Diane Arbus' name, the critics would have been kinder and they would have been willing to have more of an open mind. The writer and director used Arbus' claim to fame to explore the spark, the birth if you will of creativity. In any case, those who got it loved it and those who did not get it, smothered it. I guess I don't have to tell you I loved it.