Regarding Susan Sontag

An intimate and nuanced study of the life and work of Susan Sontag, one of the most influential and provocative thinkers of the 20th century. This outspoken writer and philosopher paved the way for a new kind of cultural criticism and wrote essays and books on photography, camp, disease and gender identity. The documentary starts with her as a book-hungry 15-year-old who was eager to grow up and see the world. It follows her through literary successes such as , “Notes on ‘Camp,’” and , up to her romance with photographer Annie Leibovitz and her controversial statements about the causes of 9/11. Debuting documentary filmmaker Nancy Kates makes good use of the many interviews with former lovers and fellow writers like Nadine Gordimer and Fran Lebowitz, as well as countless archive images of the photogenic Sontag. Meanwhile, actress Patricia Clarkson reads excerpts from her works in voice-over. Kates not only paints a picture of the impact of her work, but also shines a light on her private life. While her ex-partners still have high opinions of her, the documentary remains objective, offering space to those who contend that she was not always sensitive to her loved ones.