Born in London in 1947, Antony Penrose had a tough upbringing.  His mum, Lee, was an alcoholic for 20+ years and they had a fractured relationship with Antony feeling angry, embarrassed and betrayed by her lack of parenting.  His dad, Roland, was a non-confrontational guy who rarely showed emotion and would “disappear” at the slightest hint of trouble or conflict.

It’s funny how our perspective can change when presented with new information.  When Lee passed away in 1977 at the age of 70, Antony’s wife discovered manuscripts, photographs and roughly 60,000 negatives in the attic of the family home at Farley Farm.  Lee had never discussed it, but Antony then learned his mother had been an official war photographer for Vogue magazine during World War II.  Risking her life and witnessing the brutality of war helped explain the trauma she struggled within in the decades that followed.

Antony honoured his mother’s legacy by authoring a 1988 biography and preserving the photos and documents through the creation of the Lee Miller Archives.  Now, he has assisted in the creation of a feature length film which will introduce Lee’s story to a wider audience.  It is focused on her work during World War II and has been directed by Ellen Kuras, best known for her work as a cinematographer on movies including Blow and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Academy Award winner Kate Winslet (The Reader) embodies the titular character and plays her as a feisty, determined individual who doesn’t take no for an answer.  The bosses at Vogue don’t want to send her to France.  The military media folk don’t want her admitted into press briefings.  The top brass soldiers don’t want her life endangered on the front line.  None of this is a problem for Lee.  She uses her confidence, charm and persuasion to overcome any barrier.

It plays out as you might expect and a few supporting characters don’t have a lot to do, such as Andy Samberg as a fellow journalist, but in the same vein as Civil War earlier in the year, it’s a fitting tribute to the work of war photographers and the pivotal role they play in educating the world about atrocities.  It may also prompt audiences to do more research about Lee Miller and view her photographs online.  She deserves to be remembered.