Margy Kinmonth’s feature documentary shines a light on the trailblazing role of women war artists, on the front lines round the world, championing the female perspective on conflict through art and asking: when it's life or death, what do women see that men don't? Traditionally a male domain, war art by women has been largely unrecognised. Until now...
Culture breaks the taboo, crosses borders - tells the truth to power. Artists featured include Dame Rachel Whiteread, Zhanna Kadyrova, Maggi Hambling, Assil Diab, Dame Laura Knight, Marcelle Hanselaar, Cornelia Parker, Maya Lin, Shirin Neshat and Lee Miller. An entirely female cast of contributors makes this film a unique undertaking – telling vital truths in turbulent times.
The Garden Cinema View:
Margy Kinmonth's latest documentary continues her trilogy exploring artists inspired by war (Eric Ravilious: Drawn to War and War Art with Eddie Redmayne), with a unique central question: is there a distinctive female artistic perspective on war? To investigate, she interviews contemporary female visual artists and the descendants of artists who have grappled with this theme.
While the documentary's premise is intriguing, its ultimate strength lies beyond its structural coherence. Similar to the recent Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other, the raw power of the artwork elevates the film, transcending any potential narrative weaknesses.
Among the numerous fascinating artists featured, the work of Zhanna Kadyrova stands particularly striking. Her installations and sculptures created in bombed-out Ukrainian landscapes while under attack are profoundly harrowing, offering a visceral testimony to art's resilience in the face of destruction.
