Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus (2007, DVD)

Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus

I must admit, though I knew of Diane Arbus and her legendary legacy in the world of photography, I was stunned and surprised when I watched this movie last night. I guess I didn't know what to expect.


Fur is certainly a strange movie but when I realized that this was a fictional account of a factual person, blending both elements together, weaving a spellbinding tale, I came to appreciate the story much more as the film progressed then, after thinking about it for a while, and watching some of the scenes again, I realized I had just watched some of the most creative movie making I've seen in a while.


Diane Arbus, played by Nicolle Kidman, was a woman living in the conventional 1950's playing the role of housewife and assistant to her husband, Allan, (Ty Burell), an advertising photographer she learned much of her craft from him, that craft that became her photographic genius which eventually went far beyond anything ever seen before .but, before that, she lived that same humdrum existence so many other women of the 50's did.


Now this is where the semi-fictional account comes in one day, after a successful ad campaign, she is asked by a newsman, "what do you do"...Her reaction to that question changed her life completely when she realized her life consisted of ironing, taking care of her two daughters and helping her husband in the background of his business...nothing that satisfied her own creativity.


At the same time a strange man moved into their building on an upper floor. While watching him from her window she had a weird reaction His face was completely covered up by a mask she was intrigued


She was a shy woman by nature but had under-stirrings that started to consume her. She just had to meet that most eccentric new neighbor which led to her embarking on a journey into a world she never even knew existed she was going to photograph this man, and off she went up that staircase and through the looking glass, just like Alice in wonderland .


Her first meeting with Lionel, (Robert Downy Jr), was an incredible scene as she came face to face with this strange being once he takes his mask off we learn he has some hereditary disease which causes his entire face and body to be covered with hair. She accepts him immediately, her first reactions to seeing him were brilliantly acted out by Nicolle .Downey plays this part with an understated intensity that was just perfect, with his soulful eyes peering out of all that hair, he was great!


Her friendship with this very eccentric Lionel and the people she met through him can only be described as disturbing to some degree, why was she so fascinated by the freaks of this world and why have such morbid interests, especially since she had lived such a "normal" life up until then .it became her primary interest and she seemed to leave one world for the other, to share the world of this strange freaky person...she is given a key, a key that takes her into another dimension.


In real life, Diane once described her work as "Alice in Wonderland" for adults


Allen, her husband, is naturally disturbed by what is going on and at the same time he knows she is special and, with trepidation, tries to help her find herself .Her daughters are concerned too, then she introduces Lionel to them that was quite a scene, but soon they accept him as well. His world and those freaks of nature became almost natural to them for a while.


I don't want to give away any more of the actual story but want to state that this is a combination psychological/fantasy study of what might have gone on her head and a love story like no other, except maybe the classic "Beauty and the Beast".


Fur is a uniquely woven tale, blending fiction and non-fiction and one that offers a most fascinating look into the life of this most creative photographer, Diane Arbus and how she just might have developed that genius for her artistry in photographing the very bizarre and strange disturbing images of creatures she so brilliantly put on film.


Directed by Steven Shainberg known for another kinky film, Secretary, reunited with the same screenwriter, Erin Cressida Wilson and based this movie on a book by Patricia Bosworth, called Diane Arbus: A biography I know I am going to seek this book out, I just want to know more about Diane after seeing this film. The production designer, Amy Danger did the most incredible job on the design of the sets used, so incredibly surrealistic I was really impressed.


Once again I want to state this is an imaginary biography, an imaginary portrait of a remarkable person who changed the thinking and ideas of the world of photography in many ways enjoy it but be forewarned that you will witness more than you expected, at least I did!


The DVD extras include: Commentary by the director, a featurette with the cast, director and set designer Amy Danger and some deleted scenes

Main Cast:

Nicole Kidman - Diane Arbus
Ty Burrell - Allan Arbus
Jane Alexander - Gertrde Nemerov
Genevieve McCarthy - Sophie Arbus
Robert Downey, Jr. - Lionel Sweeney
Emmy Clarke - Grace Arbus


Director:
Steven Shainberg
Writer:
Erin Cressida Wilson
Producers:
Bill Pohlad, Edward R. Pressman, William Pohlad
Production designer
Amy Danger

122 minutes in length


An example of her work: "Identical twins": Young twin sisters are seen standing side by side in corduroy dresses. One slightly smiles and the other slightly frowns. This photo is used in Stanley Kubrick's film The Shining, which features twins in an identical pose


A few of her Diane's famous quotes :

"Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats"

"A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know"

"I never have taken a picture I've intended. They're always better or worse"

"My favorite thing is to go where I've never been".