“Peter Hujar’s Day” is one of those films that you instantly know is made for a very specific kind of viewer and if you’re that viewer, you’ll probably love it. It’s slow, quiet, and deeply talky, unfolding entirely within one New York apartment over the course of a single day. But for anyone fascinated by the interior world of artists, the rhythms of conversation, and the texture of 1970s downtown culture, it’s an oddly mesmerizing experience.
Adapted from Linda Rosenkrantz’s book, the movie recreates the real taped conversation she and Hujar recorded nearly fifty years ago. Ben Whishaw plays Hujar with a mix of vulnerability, dry wit, and artistic precision, while Rebecca Hall brings intelligence and warmth to Rosenkrantz. Together they carry the film almost entirely through dialogue, some of it playful, some thoughtful, some unexpectedly revealing. Their chemistry is understated but constant, making the film’s single-room setting feel surprisingly alive.
The conversation itself drifts freely, touching on downtown New York’s artistic scene, fleeting encounters with icons like William Burroughs, Candy Darling, Allen Ginsberg, and Susan Sontag, and the small, unglamorous details of daily life. It’s less a traditional narrative than a portrait of a man, a friendship, a cultural moment, and the kind of creative mind that moves between brilliance and frustration with equal ease.
Director Ira Sachs approaches this material with sensitivity and restraint. He doesn’t try to “open up” the story or add false drama and instead leans into the quiet, meandering quality that made the original tapes so compelling. This is definitely niche indie filmmaking, a movie that’s deeply patient, deeply intimate, and incredibly slow. Strong performances and elegant direction keep it engaging, but it’s not going to thrill audiences looking for excitement. In other words, you have to be in the right mood to sit with a film like this.
The cinematography looks beautifully vintage with a style that’s handsome, warm, and a little bit worn-in, like an old photograph rediscovered in a box. It’s sharply focused yet soft around the edges in a way that perfectly echoes the visual style of Peter Hujar’s own photography. That alone gives the film an intimate, tactile feel, as though you’ve stepped directly into 1974 rather than watching a reconstruction of it.
Those who appreciate meditative storytelling, character studies, and conversations that unfold like poetry will find “Peter Hujar’s Day” to be a truly immersive experience. It’s a film that invites you into the inner world of an artist whose passions, frustrations, and philosophies feel timeless.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 