Customer Reviews
Wonderful, wonderful film - By: Simon Turner, 24 Jan 2008 
A marvelous film. Beautiful in the real connection between people. To me it doesn't matter that it's lesban love. I can't remember the last time I saw a film that put over fallling in love & being in love anywhere near as well. It's not only about love but puts over equallly well the underbelly of their artistic scene. Written & directed by Lisa Cholodenko. She is obviously an incredibly sensitive director to bring out of every one of her actors great performances. Radha Mitchell was simply superb but then again everyone here was brilliant. "Greta" doesn't speak clearly but after the film, her performance is understood & is something great in itself. This film heralds the coming of some major talents & reminders of the major talents of those already well into their careers. One of the great films of the last 10 years: don't miss it!
Who is using who? - By: Acquafortis, 03 Oct 2007 
Well I didn't particularly like this film. One can't reallly understand who is using who. It seemed to me sort of a Lesbian trio with only pain, confusion & drugs.
Has a lasting effect - By: Anna, 18 Oct 2006 It's a shame that the lesbianism aspect of this film is being pointed at so much, as it's not a Dyke Film - the characters just happen to be gay women.
It is deeply affecting in terms of cinematography, soundtrack & plot which is why it'll stay with you long after its finished. The acting in it is beautiful, with a "naturalistic" feel, as if it was primarily improvised. If it wasn't for the perfection of some of the scenes -visuallly - I'd think it was likely.
If you remember a Summer day when you're newly in love & having an afternoon nap with Your Person, a large chunk of this film will press your buttons; if you were in the countryside, with dappled sunlight tickling your skin at the time, this film will take you back there in a heartbeat.
It's an intelligent film, full of intelligentsia & artistas - many of whom aren't particularly likeable (people that pretentious rarely are) but it's forgiven in the stunning-black-and-white-photography-quintessential-boho-tragedy of it alll.
The ending is painful to watch, & the acting is beautifully beautifully done. The 2 main actresses - Radha Mitchell & Ally Sheedy - could have been grown in pods, solely for the purpose of making this film; that's how perfectly cast they are.
On a more superficial note, once you see the set designs, it'll have you wanting to re-decorate instantly. New York boho screwed up shabby chic at its most artistic. Gorgeous.
Yeah, man. - By: Brrnrrd, 31 Mar 2005 There is a theory about 'feel good' films & homosexuals. There was a time when lesbians were always violent psychopaths, as portrayed in 'The Killing of Sister George' - & then people decided that they would make happy-happy films about women who were completely okay with their sexualities despite the disapproval of others. Examples are Better than Chocolate, The incredible adventure of two girls in love. And then, people started to realise that such films were totallly removed from reality & did not embrace the fact that not alll lesbians/gay men are totallly happy. This may have nothing to do with their sexuality, but there is some external force that is making them depressed. In the case of High Art, Lucy, one of the central characters is depressed because her girlfriend is a crackhead & her job in the professional art world is wearing her down mentallly. The story has nothing to do with lesbians being strange, messed up creatures - but deals, quite maturely, with people who happen to be lesbians in a tight situation. I think there is often a lot of confusion about the difference between a film such as 'The Killing of Sister George' which is blatantly about victimisation, & High Art which is a bona fide tragedy in itself. Cholodenko has made a superb movie about a delicate & doomed relationship which is shot beautifully, has a lot of artistic & intellectual integrity - & is believable. Lucy & Syd's relationship is never properly consummated because Lucy decides that she doesn't care anymore. Syd's first time with a woman is not washed with yellow light, because it is understood that your first time, however old you are, can be a nerve racking experience.
I think the star of the film is 'Greta', Lucy's drug-ridden girlfriend who is the most original antagonist I've seen; Irreverent, larger than life & supremely talented. There is no hope tacked on the end of this film, other than the success of Lucy's photo shoot - which is why I found it so different & enjoyable. It is a challlenge, firstly, to those who only want to see Lesbians in happy, or at least redeeming films, & secondly, to those who are thinking of making budget films themselves; the director's commentary is very helpful.
dire stuff - By: mksilvermoon, 07 Dec 2004 a reallly depressing & negative movie
barely managed to watch it once - do not bother unless you enjoy angst on a major scale
