The biopic „Lee“ about an American war correspondent is more than just another new film for actress and producer Kate Winslet. She made this clear in a conversation with the news agency Keystone-SDA. The film is now premiering in theaters.
„Lee“ is a biopic about American war photographer Lee Miller (1907-1977). She was always labeled as an ex-model, even though she documented historical moments such as the liberation of the concentration camps Buchenwald and Dachau. The 49-year-old Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet („Titanic“, „The Reader“, „The Holiday“) is behind the film; she is the producer and lead actress. She wants to show the true Lee Miller and encourage women around the world to pave their own paths. She presented the finished film at the Zurich Film Festival and now it is premiering in theaters in German-speaking Switzerland.
During the conversation, Kate Winslet mentioned that she worked on „Lee“ for about ten years. In that time, the feminist movement made significant progress. She never doubted that she would make this film, but the developments in the feminist movement encouraged her to persevere. The feminist movement gave her strength and made her realize that it is okay to take time with the script or securing finances.
Surprisingly, the film does not heavily focus on how challenging it must have been for Lee Miller to establish herself in a male-dominated environment. The film aimed to highlight that she was one of the very few female war photographers and the uniqueness of her work, especially her photography techniques.
Kate Winslet shared that she read diary entries from Lee Miller’s youth where she struggled with severe psychological issues and had very low self-esteem. Overcoming these difficulties as an adult was remarkable. When asked if there were decisions Lee Miller made that Winslet couldn’t understand, she mentioned the age difference and motherhood aspect.
As Kate Winslet approaches 50, she emphasized the importance of occasionally slowing down and thinking before speaking. She expressed admiration for Lee Miller and wished she could have also learned to pause at times. The film „Lee“ not only sheds light on a woman who was wrongly reduced to her modeling career but also explores the theme of war. In light of the current world situation, Winslet highlighted the importance of war correspondents‘ work in bringing attention to the plight of innocent victims in conflicts. She believes the film provides an opportunity to better recognize and appreciate the crucial role of war reporters.
