Clouds of Sils Maria ***** (2014, Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart, Chloë Grace Moretz) – Movie Review

Juliette Binoche is on commanding form as Maria Enders, a fading veteran star actress who reluctantly agrees to take part in a revival of the play that launched her career 20 years earlier. Back then Maria was playing a seductive teenager discovering her sexual allure, but now she’s playing the confident, manipulated older woman in the play. Maria has to confront a whole lot of demons.

With a strong set-up, lovely dialogue and beautifully pitched performances, this psycho sexual drama in which art reflects life and back again is a hugely impressive achievement from writer-director Olivier Assayas (Irma Vep, Summer Hours, Something in the Air).

Kristen Stewart is outstanding in support as the actress’s press assistant Valentine, who goes with her to the Swiss Alps to start rehearsals, sparking a crypto semi-erotic tension between the odd couple duo. Stewart is so good that even a film this brilliant takes a slight dip when she disappears. Chloë Grace Moretz is chilling as the patronising young star who plays Maria’s old seductive teenager role.

World class cinema.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Movie Review

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