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Parents' Guide to

Georgia O'Keeffe

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Biopic more about turbulent relationship than art.

Movie NR 2010 89 minutes
Georgia O'Keeffe Poster Image

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What's the Story?

When Georgia O'Keeffe (Joan Allen) walked into a gallery in New York City and admonished the gallery owner for hanging her paintings without asking her permission, the gallery owner, Alfred Stieglitz (Jeremy Irons) wooed her into allowing him to represent her. He continues to woo her in other ways as well, eventually leaving his wife of 25 years for the young artist from Wisconsin. The two lovers marry, and begin a turbulent partnership that defined their careers. As Georgia becomes more famous, Alfred becomes more controlling. He eventually cheats on her, breaking her heart, but sending her into a period of exploration that becomes her trademark years in New Mexico. Their lives are irrevocably intertwined, however, and Alfred charms his way into her life just to tear her to pieces once more.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This dramatic, effusive interpretation of Georgia O'Keeffe's life focuses more on her relationships than on her art. Sure, she sasses her patron, telling him to leave her alone when she is working, but his narcissistic behavior takes a toll on her to the point where O'Keeffe suffers a nervous breakdown. A little less schmaltz and a little more substance would have benefited this otherwise eye-catching portrait. Fans of the artist will enjoy this jaunt into her private life, but a visit to the museum will do more to scratch the connoisseur's itch.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what it was like to be a woman in Georgia O'Keeffe's time. Sure these characters seem free spirited, but were women really allowed liberties like speaking their minds in 1912?

  • Alfred posts photos of Georgia's nude body in his gallery without asking her permission, and makes her into a celebrity. How is instant celebrity (whether wanted or unwanted) a lot more common today?

  • What makes a healthy partnership? What are the functional aspects of Alfred and Georgia's relationship? In which ways is their relationship unhealthy?

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