Directed by Alison Chernick, House of Criticism offers an intimate and revealing portrait of the often-misunderstood world of art criticism, focusing on the passionate and sometimes contentious relationship between two of its most influential figures, Jerry Saltz and Roberta Smith. As the Pulitzer Prize-winning art critics for New York Magazine and The New York Times respectively, they are also husband and wife, a dynamic that creates a fascinating tension between their professional rigor and personal bond. The film explores their individual motivations, from Saltz’s raw, visceral reactions to art to Smith’s more analytical, historical approach, revealing how their distinct voices shape the art world’s conversation. Through candid interviews and behind-the-scenes glimpses, viewers witness the central conflict of their lives: the struggle to remain objective and critical while navigating the pressures of the art market, the demands of celebrity artists like Cindy Sherman and Mickalene Thomas, and the influence of powerful gallerists such as Larry Gagosian. With appearances from Lena Dunham and others, this documentary is a compelling, thought-provoking exploration of the high-stakes, deeply personal nature of critical judgment, offering a rare look at the people who decide what art matters.