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As World War II raged on in Europe, the women who were left behind were told that it was important for them to do their part from home. But the biopic Lee tells the story of one woman who decided to do her part by telling the stories that no one else dared tell.
Lee stars Kate Winslet as Lee Miller, a former model who found a new calling as a photojournalist at the start of World War II. Determined to show the world what was really happening in Europe, she traveled to the front lines—where no woman was supposed to go—sending her photographs back to her editor at British Vogue. And though publications preferred to report on the good news—on liberation and celebration—Lee and her friend and colleague, LIFE photographer David Scherman (Andy Samberg), photographed the grim realities of the war and its aftermath.
Though she once enjoyed long, leisurely parties in the French countryside with her rich artist friends, Lee suddenly finds herself in the middle of the action, risking her life to photograph soldiers on the front lines, witnessing the greatest horrors of the war. But while we’ve seen gruesome images like hers so many times before, the film offers a new perspective, allowing viewers to observe it all through the eyes of a civilian woman who experienced it all first-hand. And Kate Winslet gives a strong portrayal of this bold and determined and impulsive character.
This isn’t the typical war movie. It spends very little time in the middle of combat zones—and, for that reason, some viewers may find it incredibly dull. Admittedly, there isn’t much of a plot here; it mostly just follows Lee’s journeys through war-torn Europe. But, along the way, it explores the human side of the war—not just the destruction and death but also the faces of the people whose lives were forever changed.
Unfortunately, though, the film’s conclusion seems to leave out some of the interesting parts of the character’s life. In attempting to surprise audiences with a last-minute twist, it instead shows that there was so much more to Lee Miller that was simply skimmed over in the end—and it may leave viewers wishing they’d been given more.
Lee certainly tells a fascinating story about a remarkable woman who risked her life to capture history—and Kate Winslet gives the character a memorable portrayal. But when the film comes to its end, it just feels like something is missing.
You can get to know this remarkable figure when Lee comes to theaters on September 27, 2024.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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