High Art (1998)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sarita Choudhury	...	Joan (uncredited)
Stephen Gevedon	...	Man at Party (uncredited)
Craig Wedren	...	Shudder to Think (uncredited)

Directed by
Lisa Cholodenko

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Lisa Cholodenko		writer

Produced by
Dolly Hall	....	producer
Jeffrey Levy-Hinte	....	producer
Lori E. Seid	....	associate producer
Susan A. Stover	....	producer

Original Music by
Stuart Hill		(as Shudder to Think)
Nathan Larson		(as Shudder to Think)
Craig Wedren		(as Shudder to Think)

Cinematography by
Tami Reiker

Film Editing by
Amy E. Duddleston

Casting by
Kerry Barden
Billy Hopkins
Suzanne Smith

Production Design by
Bernhard Blythe

Art Direction by
Caryn Marcus

Costume Design by
Victoria Farrell

Makeup Department
Maryann Marchetti	....	assistant makeup artist
Mia Thoen	....	hair stylist
Mia Thoen	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Exile Ramirez	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gwen Bialic	....	second second assistant director
Cecily Kaston	....	second assistant director
Kelly McKaig	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jeff Carter	....	contributing artist
Mechelle Chojecki	....	contributing artist
Anne-Christine D'Adesky	....	contributing artist
Sean De Simone	....	art department coordinator
Peter Fay	....	contributing artist
Daphne Fitzpatrick	....	contributing artist
Jackie Hamilton	....	contributing artist (as Jackie Hamilton)
Emily Krill	....	contributing artist
Zoe Leonard	....	contributing artist
Make Lu	....	contributing artist
Cynthia Madansky	....	graphic designer
Carol Pavitt	....	contributing artist
Michael Pirrocco	....	contributing artist
Camilla Slattery	....	contributing artist
David Wojnarowicz	....	contributing artist
Suzanne Wright	....	contributing artist

Sound Department
Kevin Bowe	....	boom operator
Kevin Bowe	....	sound intern
Laurel Bridges	....	boom operator
Tammy Douglas	....	additional boom operator
Tom Efinger	....	supervising sound editor
Robert Fernandez	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Rob Fernandez)
Jonah Lawrence	....	sound designer
Jamie Moore	....	additional boom operator
Noah Timan	....	production sound mixer
Damian Volpe	....	supervising sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Nina Berman	....	photographer: frame cover
Claire F. Cario	....	first assistant camera
Karen Crumley	....	photographer: frame cover
Exum	....	photographer: frame cover
Robert Flynt	....	photographer: frame cover
Nan Goldin	....	photographer: frame cover
Janine Gordon	....	photographer: frame cover
Michael N. Green	....	additional electrician
Jackie Hamilton	....	jib operator
James Harker	....	electrician
Lianne Harris	....	photographer: frame cover
Brenda Ann Kenneally	....	photographer: frame cover
Ted LeHane	....	key grip
Ernest Montgomery	....	photographer: frame cover
Barbara Nitke	....	photographer: frame cover
Martin Nowlan	....	best boy
Mark Peterson	....	photographer: frame cover
Jack Pierson	....	photographer: frame cover
Steve Ramsey	....	gaffer
Lauren Sorokin	....	photographer: "Dieter Portfolio"
Amy Steiner	....	photographer: frame cover
Walter Thomson	....	additional still photographer
Robert Vizzini	....	photographer: frame cover
JoJo Whilden	....	photographer: "Lucy berliner"
JoJo Whilden	....	still photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rebecca Conroy	....	wardrobe assistant
Anne Kenney	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
George Koran	....	telecine colorist
Jennifer Ruff	....	post-production coordinator

Music Department
Frank Egan	....	music editor
Tracy McKnight	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Brandon Baker	....	set intern
Andrew W. Bennett	....	location production assistant
Gary Kauffman	....	production counsel
Molly Maguire	....	script supervisor
Livia Monte	....	production coordinator
Daniel Shaw	....	assistant location manager
Gary Wattson	....	production assistant
Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc	....	aerial coordinator

Thanks
Ziv Assaf	....	special thanks
Sarita Choudhury	....	special thanks
Taye Diggs	....	thanks
Milos Forman	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• 391 Productions
• Antidote Films (I)
• October Films

Distributors

• October Films (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• PRO-FUN media Filmverleih (2008) (Germany) (all media)
• Arsenal
• Homescreen (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Pyramide Distribution
• Vértigo Films (Spain)

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: Where do you think I've been all week?
Greta: With the teenager.

Movie Connections:

References "Berlin Alexanderplatz" (1980)

Soundtrack:

Cracktub

Probably the best movie of the 90's

I thought this movie was absolutely beautiful.

To begin with, the cinematography was a wonderful experiment. A variety of contemporary photographers were hired to shoot individual scenes or stills used in the movie. While this device could have left us with a fragmented feeling, it worked quite well to put us in the mind of characters who work in "art" photography.

The plot was poignant and difficult. While it could have left me unsatisfied with a Hollywood ending, it took a bolder route, which in the end was much more satisfying.

I felt that the acting was quite well done. This script could have led to a lot of really dreadful mugging for the camera, but the director got very specific performances from a talented cast.

Though not as widely acclaimed as "Laurel Canyon" I thought this movie was more satisfying. If you liked Canyon, this one definitely deserves to be seen.