Renowned American photographer, photojournalist, and war correspondent Lee Miller has left an impression on the 2024 movie year. First she was an inspiration for Kirsten Dunst’s character in Alex Garland’s “Civil War”. Now she’s the centerpiece of director Ellen Kuras’ “Lee”, a biographical drama based on the book “The Lives of Lee Miller” which was written by her son, Antony Penrose.

Kate Winslet offers a riveting portrayal of the film’s titular lead. Her passion for Lee Miller’s story is evident throughout her performance and led her to also serve as producer. Winslet and Kuras previously worked together on 2004’s “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”. With “Lee”, the two set out to tackle a much different project – one that has been eight years in the making. Their labors were not in vain. “Lee” is an absorbing, well acted, and handsomely shot feature that captures the essence of this captivating figure.

The story, penned by the screenwriting trio of Liz Hannah, John Collee, and Marion Hume, includes a broad range of characters, most of whom are based on real people from Miller’s life. In addition to Winslet, the film features a sparkling cast that includes Marion Cotillard, Andrea Riseborough, Alexander Skarsgård, Josh O’Connor, Andy Samberg, and Noémie Merlant. All help to invigorate different areas of Miller’s remarkable life.

The movie is framed through a 1977 interview an older Lee Miller (Winslet) has with an idealistic journalist (O’Connor). It’s a storytelling device the movie doesn’t need yet it has its poignant moments. Through the interview we’re introduced to younger Lee, a former model turned pugnacious party girl who enjoys hanging out with her rowdy friends in 1938 France. That’s where she meets and falls in love with Roland Penrose (Skarsgård), a British artist and curator.

Roland convinces Lee to follow him to London where the two settle down. Lee gets a job as a photographer with British Vogue magazine working under editor Audrey Withers (Riseborough). But as with so many others, Lee’s life changes as the Second World War intensifies. She gets word that her friends back in France are forced to flee underground as the Nazi’s occupy Paris. And soon after, the German’s begin bombing London. That leads Roland, a conscientious objector, to enlist as an air raid warden and camoufleur.

While the men went off to war, the women were expected to stay behind. But not Lee. She was inspired to be a war photographer but was immediately met with resistance from her magazine and even the British government. But she pushed back, eventually finding her way to the war zone. There she befriends and partners with Life magazine correspondent David Scherman (Samberg, giving a career-best performance). Together they travel across war-torn Europe, shooting field hospitals, combat in Saint-Malo, the liberation of Paris, suicide pacts in Leipzig, and the horrors of the Dachau concentration camp.

Winslet and Kuras paint a fascinating portrait of Lee Miller. They reveal her to be ambitious and determined but also abrasive and impulsive. She’s seen as a straight-shooter to a fault, often dismissing any opinion or suggestion that doesn’t line up with her own. At the same time, it’s that very grit that strengthened her to push through countless barriers placed in front of her. Most importantly, Winslet accentuates Lee’s humanity by injecting humor, vulnerability, and pathos into her performance.

Among the many compelling aspects of “Lee” is watching Kuras build entire scenes around some of Miller’s most iconic images, from lounging with her friends in Mougins, France to bathing in Hitler’s bathtub. Other scenes are so affecting that we can only watch in unsettled silence. But all of them help to give us a well-rounded grasp of who Lee Miller was. And Winslet’s awards-worthy performance is icing on the proverbial cake. “Lee” opens in theaters on September 27th.

VERDICT – 4 STARS