Run time: 100 mins
A portrait of an artistic encounter set against the haze of noughties London, this drama revisits the unlikely connection between model Kate Moss and painter Lucian Freud.
Following the peak of Cool Britannia, Moss (Ellie Bamber) is already a cultural phenomenon. Seeking something beyond the churn of fashion, she becomes drawn into the orbit of Freud (Derek Jacobi), whose reputation for uncompromising portraiture sets him apart from the commercial world she inhabits. What follows is a series of sittings and conversations that unfold in the confines of Kensington Church Street, where the two slowly establish an unusual rapport while Freud works on his now-famous study of Moss.
Director James Lucas recreates the era with a strong sense of atmosphere, capturing the smoky texture of West London’s artistic circles and the quiet tension of observation and being observed. Bamber delivers a striking performance, convincingly channelling Moss’s distinctive presence and restless energy, while Jacobi grounds Freud in sharp intelligence and dry humour.
Less concerned with scandal than with connection, the film reflects on what happens when two very different people briefly share the same frame, and how art can change the way they see each other.