Kate Winslet and Josh O’Connor Explore the Life of War Photographer Lee Miller in 'Lee' Trailer

Recently, the first trailer for “Lee,” directed by Ellen Kuras, was released. It depicts the life of war photographer Lee Miller and stars acclaimed actress Kate Winslet as esteemed World War II photographer Lee Miller. The movie is produced by Roadside Attractions and Vertical Entertainment, with a screenplay by Liz Hannah, John Collee, and Marion Hume. Based on a story by Hume, Collee, and Lem Dobbs, the script is adapted from the 1985 biography The Lives of Lee Miller by Antony Penrose.

The official synopsis of the film reads: “The story of photographer Elizabeth `Lee’ Miller, a fashion model who became an acclaimed war correspondent for Vogue magazine during World War II.“

The film features an ensemble cast including Winslet, Josh O’Connor, Marion Cotillard, Andrea Riseborough, Andy Samberg, Noémie Merlant, and Alexander Skarsgård round out the cast.

The first trailer for “Lee” provides a glimpse into the film’s intense narrative. In one scene, O’Connor’s character asks an older version of Winslet’s Lee Miller, “Do you want the world to know about you?” She responds, “You think I went to war so people would know my name?” Later in the footage, Winslet says, “Even when I wanted to look away, I knew I couldn’t.”

Is Lee Worth Watching?

“Lee” is a British biographical drama film directed by Ellen Kuras in her feature directorial debut. Kuras’ previous directorial credits include episodes of television projects such as “Extrapolations” and serving as cinematographer for films including “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.”

“Lee” premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2023. Upon its reception, its critical reviews were generally positive. Moreover, on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, it received an average rating of 6.4/10. The website’s consensus reads: “Kate Winslet’s gripping performance in the title role helps elevate Lee beyond its disappointingly conventional biopic trappings.”

In her review for The Hollywood Reporter, critic Lovia Gyarkye wrote that Winslet “injects award-winning cinematographer Ellen Kuras’ glossy and conventional biopic with an energy that ushers an enigmatic figure to the foreground.”

In September 2022, Winslet took a brief break from filming after injuring her back in a fall on the set in Croatia. “Kate slipped and was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure required by the production,” her rep told THR at the time.

Also, the movie took eight years to make, and, at one point, due to precarious funding, Kate Winslet (who also produced the movie) paid the entire cast and crew’s salaries for two weeks.

The film is finally set to release theatrically on 13 September 2024 by Sky Cinema.