In 1958 New York Diane Arbus is a housewife and mother who works as an assistant to her husband, a photographer employed by her wealthy parents. Respectable though her life is, she cannot help but feel uncomfortable in her privileged world. One night, a new neighbor catches Diane's eye, and the enigmatic man inspires her to set forth on the path to discovering her own artistry.
Nicole Kidman
Diane Arbus
Robert Downey Jr.
Lionel Sweeney
Ty Burrell
Allan Arbus
Harris Yulin
David Nemerov
Jane Alexander
Gertrude Nemerov
Emmy Clarke
Grace Arbus
Genevieve McCarthy
Sophie Arbus
Boris McGiver
Jack Henry
Marceline Hugot
Tippa Henry
Mary Duffy
Althea
Emily Bergl
Allan's New Assistant
Gwendolyn Bucci
Dominatrix
Christina Rouner
Lois
Matt Servitto
Handsome Client
Lynn-Marie Stetson
Fiona
Jess Osuna
Elevator Man
Director
Steven Shainberg
Screenplay
Erin Cressida Wilson
April 8, 2023
I watched this as I'm a keen photographer and hoped to learn more about Arbus despite the film being honestly marketed as mostly fiction (the other main character 'Lionel' and anything about the family other than their existence) based loosely on an unauthorised biography. I learned how to pronounce Diane but not a lot else. That doesn't make it a bad film just not very educational. It's a good idea for a film but doesn't quite hit the mark. Given the artistic license it affords itself it could have gone anywhere but it doesn't really. There are some interesting, quirky and funny bits in it but somehow it doesn't quite hold them together coherently. 6/10 (and one of those is simply for having a TLR Rolleiflex in it)