Lee concentrates on photographer Lee Miller's work during the Second World War. Ellen Kuras follows a woman determined to document what she sees while navigating professional obstacles and the emotional burden of witnessing terrible events.
Kate Winslet gives Miller impressive intensity. Her inner struggles are tangible, and the performance supplies much of the film's depth. Andy Samberg is a welcome surprise in a serious role, with strong chemistry alongside Winslet.
The wider ensemble provides valuable support. The central relationships give the historical material a human connection instead of leaving Miller as an emblem of courage. The performances are consistently one of the production's strengths.
Kuras uses light and composition effectively. The images can convey the brutality of the war while retaining an interest in the people experiencing it. Some sequences have a nearly documentary immediacy that makes the suffering difficult to keep at a distance.
The structure is uneven, however. Movement between periods can disrupt the emotional thread. Miller's psychological burdens and personal relationships could also have been explored more deeply, especially the lasting effects of the wartime experiences.
Focusing on her work as a war correspondent is a sensible choice, but the portrait still leaves important emotional territory underdeveloped. Lee remains worthwhile for its performances, visual treatment and moving account of determination. It is an involving film that could have been stronger with a more searching look beyond the immediate events.