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High Art

Play trailer Poster for High Art R 1998 1h 42m Drama LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
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79% Tomatometer 53 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Syd (Radha Mitchell), a low-level editor at a photography magazine eager to establish herself, discovers her neighbor is the once-celebrated downtown photographer Lucy Berliner (Ally Sheedy). Although Syd lives with her boyfriend (Gabriel Mann), she is drawn to Lucy, who has a volatile relationship with her heroin-addicted girlfriend, Greta (Patricia Clarkson). As Syd starts sleeping with Lucy, she is pulled into a glamorous but dangerous art-world scene, full of drugs and unexpected pleasures.
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High Art

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Critics Consensus

A surprisingly sultry performance from Ally Sheedy elevates High Art from pretentious melodrama to compelling -- if still a little pretentious -- romance.

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Critics Reviews

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Derek Smith Slant Magazine Jun 15
Like Lucy’s photography, Lisa Cholodenko’s film is intensely focused and intimate, capturing the complex, inner landscapes of its two central characters. Go to Full Review Drew Gregory Autostraddle 03/29/2021
Ally Sheedy plays Lucy with a sexy grime. Go to Full Review Philippa Snow New Statesman 01/21/2021
As well as its procession of downtown drug soirées, High Art offers one of the more sensitive on-screen depictions of lesbian sex in (relatively) mainstream cinema. Go to Full Review Mattie Lucas From the Front Row Jul 28
3.5/4
Cholodenko nails the faded milieu of queer artists, lovers, and hangers-on intersecting through sex, drugs, and art. Go to Full Review Kathy Fennessy Seattle Film Blog Jul 21
3.5/4
[Lisa] Cholodenko avoids most of the tropes associated with heroin, preventing High Art from becoming just another addiction drama, though Syd's attraction to Lucy plays like a form of addiction. Go to Full Review Ian Thomas Malone ianthomasmalone.com Jul 6
Sheedy puts forth the best performance of her career, bringing ample depth to Lucy’s icy exterior as she explores the intricacies of sapphic yearning. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Will R @oldfilmgeek 8h Ally Sheedy and Radha Mitchell star in this romantic drama. See more Sibby 5 @RT12152834 Aug 11 A delightfully fresh, yet intense movie. I remember renting this film and having to hide it from my parents so long ago. Radha is beautiful and innocent in this movie. I love the art theme and photography with REAL cameras is just a soothing part of the film. NO CELL PHONES! That part is great for me. Just everyone is preoccupied with each other, building relationships, burning bridges, jealousy, beautiful imagery, even the car was a classic. Lots emotional roller coasters, give and take. Ally is the dark grey clouds and Radha is the sunshine pushing through the clouds but rising out of them. Ally stays in the dark grey but Radha escapes. See more Stephen C @bob25009 06/11/2025 Pride in 1 hour and 42 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can like anyone, anytime, anywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Stephen D @Stephendivenere 04/08/2025 Ally is terrific. I really enjoyed this film. See more S R @ScottR 04/01/2025 I liked it being called a "pretentious melodrama". Add in Lesbian and drugs, and you got a good description. I saw it since it was on the NYT 1000 movies list. SLC DVD. See more John A @ExcessMale 11/02/2024 Sheedy and Mitchell's devotion to the material is likely to wrap you up in the first act but I can't say if Director Cholodenko even pondered on the third act being anywhere near as fulfilling as the first. Worthwhile for the acting alone I'd say. See more Read all reviews
High Art

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Cast & Crew

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Lisa Cholodenko

Director

Ally Sheedy

Lucy Berliner

Radha Mitchell

Syd

Patricia Clarkson

Greta

Tammy Grimes

Vera

Gabriel Mann

James

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High Art

High Art (1998) High Art (1998) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Syd (Radha Mitchell), a low-level editor at a photography magazine eager to establish herself, discovers her neighbor is the once-celebrated downtown photographer Lucy Berliner (Ally Sheedy). Although Syd lives with her boyfriend (Gabriel Mann), she is drawn to Lucy, who has a volatile relationship with her heroin-addicted girlfriend, Greta (Patricia Clarkson). As Syd starts sleeping with Lucy, she is pulled into a glamorous but dangerous art-world scene, full of drugs and unexpected pleasures.
Director
Lisa Cholodenko
Producer
Dolly Hall, Jeffrey Kusama-Hinte, Susan A. Stover
Screenwriter
Lisa Cholodenko
Distributor
October Films
Production Co
October Films, 391 Productions, Antidote Films
Rating
R
Genre
Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 12, 1998, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Apr 4, 2025
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.9M
Runtime
1h 42m
Sound Mix
Surround
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