
Steven Soderbergh often releases small, low-key films, and The Christophers is one of them. It’s surprisingly good – not like some of his other, more flawed projects. The film mainly focuses on two characters, Julian and Lori, who engage in a complex, almost combative relationship spanning generations, revealing both their lies and moments of honesty. They both seem deeply hurt by the art world, yet still crave its approval. Lori initially approaches Julian as a potential assistant, but she’s actually been hired by his children to finish his famous series of paintings, also called “The Christophers,” which are portraits of a former lover. These paintings are mostly just rough sketches and have been stored away for years. Julian’s children, Sallie and Barnaby, hope to ‘discover’ and sell them after his death, completing the scheme.