High Art

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High Art

R

1998

1h 42m

Drama

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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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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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Derek Smith

Slant Magazine

Jun 15, 2026

Like Lucy’s photography, Lisa Cholodenko’s film is intensely focused and intimate, capturing the complex, inner landscapes of its two central characters.

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Drew Gregory

Autostraddle

Mar 29, 2021

Ally Sheedy plays Lucy with a sexy grime.

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Philippa Snow

New Statesman

Jan 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.

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Ellie Lucas

From the Front Row

Jul 28, 2026

3.5/4

Cholodenko nails the faded milieu of queer artists, lovers, and hangers-on intersecting through sex, drugs, and art.

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Kathy Fennessy

Seattle Film Blog

Jul 21, 2026

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.

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Ian Thomas Malone

ianthomasmalone.com

Jul 6, 2026

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.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 10, 2026

High Art = a *4* star Movie

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Will R

@oldfilmgeek Aug 19, 2026

Ally Sheedy and Radha Mitchell star in this romantic drama.

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Sibby 5

@RT12152834 Aug 11, 2026

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.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jun 11, 2025

Pride in 1 hour and 42 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can like anyone, anytime, anywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Stephen D

@Stephendivenere Apr 8, 2025

Ally is terrific. I really enjoyed this film.

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S R

@ScottR Apr 1, 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.

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Lisa Cholodenko

Director

Ally Sheedy

Lucy Berliner

Radha Mitchell

Syd

Patricia Clarkson

Greta

Tammy Grimes

Vera

Gabriel Mann

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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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