Plot Summary

Infamous is a biographical crime drama that explores the creative and psychological relationship between celebrated author Truman Capote and convicted murderer Perry Smith. Set primarily in the late 1950s, the film examines the moral cost of artistic obsession and the blurred line between empathy and exploitation.

The story follows Capote, portrayed by Toby Jones, as he travels to Kansas to investigate the brutal murder of the Clutter family. What begins as journalistic curiosity gradually evolves into a deep personal fixation, particularly with Perry Smith, played by Daniel Craig, whose intelligence and emotional vulnerability captivate the writer.

As Capote works on what will become his groundbreaking nonfiction novel, he forms an intense bond with Smith, one that complicates his pursuit of truth. The closer Capote grows to his subject, the more he becomes trapped between genuine compassion and the knowledge that the completion of his book depends on Smith’s execution.

Subtle, restrained, and psychologically rich, Infamous presents a nuanced portrait of ambition and conscience. Rather than focusing on the crime itself, the film delves into the ethical dilemmas of storytelling, questioning whether great art can be created without personal sacrifice—or moral compromise.