Directed by Steven Soderbergh, 2025, USA, Rated R, 101 minutes
A once-celebrated artist faces an unexpected reckoning in The Christophers, a sharp, character-driven drama from director Steven Soderbergh. Ian McKellen stars as Julian Sklar, a legendary British painter whose fame has long faded, leaving behind a complicated legacy—and a family eager to capitalize on what remains of it. When his estranged children hatch a scheme to secretly complete and sell his unfinished works, they enlist the help of an art restorer with a questionable past. But as deception gives way to something more personal, the film evolves into a wry and thoughtful meditation on authenticity, artistic ownership, and the fragile line between creation and imitation. Anchored by a compelling dynamic between McKellen and Michaela Coel, The Christophers blends dry humor with emotional depth, offering a quietly absorbing look at legacy, ego, and the enduring power of art.
