By Laura BennettFriday 25 Oct 2024MoviesReading Time: 2 minutes
Lee Miller is not a name you might be familiar with, but for 8 years her story’s one that Oscar-winner Kate Winslet has been working hard to tell.
Key Points:
- Based on the powerful true story of Lee Miller, former Vogue model turned war photographer.
- Kate Winslet is masterful at bringing Lee Miller to life, and much like her roles in Mare of Easttown or Ammonite, she seems to be embracing opportunities in her career to play dynamic, “real” women and not just glamorous ones.
- Lee is in cinemas October 24, and is for mature audiences and includes instances of sexual violence and nudity.
Originally a model for Vogue in the 1920’s, Lee grew tired of the superficially of her industry and went on to become a photographer capturing some of the most iconic images from World War II.
Most notably, posing with an image of Hitler in his bathtub after the Fuehrer’s passing and documenting the aftermath of prisoner-of-war camps.
Kate Winslet was introduced to Lee’s backstory after purchasing a table connected with her history which set Kate on a mission to honour the life of a “determined, powerful, yet flawed middle aged woman who had the courage to take risks and head off to the frontline, completely alone”.
At a time where women weren’t allowed in military media briefings – let alone conflict zones – Lee’s presence there, and her insistence images be shared in a publication like Vogue, was groundbreaking.
On screen Lee presents as self-assured and assertive, but exposure to the reality of war and human mistreatment reveals her sensitivity and we learn the true cause of her bravado.
Kate Winslet seems to be embracing opportunities in her career to play dynamic, “real” women and not just glamorous ones
Treading a fine line between the effects of what she sees and it spilling over into her relationships, Lee grapples with misunderstandings of injustice and stories that remain untold.
Kate Winslet is masterful at bringing Lee Miller to life, and much like her roles in Mare of Easttown or Ammonite, she seems to be embracing opportunities in her career to play dynamic, “real” women and not just glamorous ones.
Lee is a powerful drama highlighting a narrower slice of World War II life and prompts discussions about the transfer of historical knowledge and how to respond to injustice.
Lee is for mature audiences and includes instances of sexual violence and nudity.
Lee is in cinemas October 24.
Feature image: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions