Weekly Review -- Love stories and other question marks

High Art (1998) -- A reflective study of human nature and relationships interweaving, Lisa Cholodenko's first feature film is a love story of the highest order. 

Assistant magazine editor Cyd (Radha Mitchell) accidentally discovers that a reclusive and infamous photographer, Lucy Berliner (Ally Sheedy), lives in the apartment above her own. Their exchanges soon lead to a fiery liaison, but also a professional development for each woman, after Cyd arranges a cover assignment for a very reluctant Lucy. However, the professional and personal soon intertwine, leaving the women grappling with her own demons in the midst of a budding affair... 

Cholodenko depicts the complexities of intimacy in a visually subtle manner, through soft close-ups and the fluctuating intensity of colors. The characters are shown through a kaleidoscope of traits, with no clear black and white in the midst of desire, only shades of gray. Neither woman is comfortable with the direction her life is taking, each one seeing salvation in the other. However, the problem lies in the fact that both Cyd and Lucy bring unresolved problems to the affair, while lacking the emotional tools that could help them cope with their baggage. Their passion is further stunted by their lack of focus -- Cyd is in limbo between her sexual awakening and possibly selling out, while Lucy is stuck between a turbulent past and an uncertain future. All of their inner conflicts are a major hindrance in Cyd and Lucy's decision-making; we do not know until the very end if either one of them will take the next step in the romance.  

The acting is impressive all around. Mitchell is a vision of chaos as the deeply torn Cyd; Sheedy as Lucy is a vulnerable, self-destructive and unstoppable force; and the incredibly expressive Patricia Clarkson is a standout as Greta, Lucy's needy ex-lover. 

High Art is an intelligent, thought-provoking film, one that relishes its metaphorical references to the irony of its title. After all, the process of negotiating one's passion at any price, inadvertently or not, denotes selling art of greatest value.

8/10