Loving Highsmith

Loving Highsmith is a fascinating biopic documentary by Director Eva Vitija that takes a unique retrospective look at a celebrated author’s life. Based on brilliant writer Patricia Highsmith’s personal writings and intimated reflections of her family, friends and lovers, the film casts new light on the famous thriller writer’s life and oeuvre, permeated by themes of love and its defining influence on her troubled identity. Most of Highsmith’s novels (Strangers on a Train, The Talented Mr. Ripley) were adapted for the big screen; the best known of these is Carol, a partly autobiographic novel that was the first lesbian story with a happy ending to be published in 1950s America. Highsmith herself was forced to lead a double life and had to hide her vibrant love affairs from her family and the public alike. Only in her unpublished writings did she reflect on her private life and affairs. Excerpts from these notes, voiced by Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones, Top of the Lake), are beautifully interwoven with archival material of her and her most famous novel adaptions, create a vivid, touching portrait of one of the most fascinating female writers in the 20th Century. [2022, Switzerland/Germany, 83 min, R: Not Rated] View trailer: https://youtu.be/UD4sgALNZa4 David Rooney of Hollywood Reporter writes, “As multilayered as one of the author’s own plots.” Kathi Wolfe of Washington Blade exclaims, “A must-see documentary. It will send you racing to read the nearest Highsmith book at hand.” Venue: Cinema Art Theater. Presenter: Rehoboth Beach Film Society.