Diane Arbus was a celebrated American photographer best known for her portraits of people on the fringes, or freaks. Fur – An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus follows Arbus ( Nicole Kidman) on her journey from mother and wife leading an average, boring life (in her mind) to novice photographer of the “not-so-normal” side of society.

Her transformation is ignited by Lionel Sweeney (Robert Downey Jr.), a man suffering from hypertrichosis, or excessive hair growth. His deviant lifestyle intrigues Arbus.

She tiptoes to her neighbor's apartment at night under the guise of photographing him, but ultimately, falls for him. Arbus will eventually leave her husband, kids and “normal” lifestyle in pursuit of artistic freedom and out-the-box creativity.

Fur is a beautiful movie with interesting twists and turns, though it doesn't elicit much compassion for Arbus or Sweeney. In 1971, at the age of 48, Arbus committed suicide. I mention this only to say it was evident from this film that maybe Arbus' attraction to outsiders revealed her own feelings of isolation and doubts about fitting into society.

Grade: B