been looking forward to seeing this one for a year
saw it in small screen mode on a busy long-haul flight
which counts for nothing except a want to see it 'properly'
so very happy to see it listed in the program for nziff 2015
it's on the biggest screen with the best sound so centre seated
juliet binoche is one of those stars with an impeccable record
a thousand times goodnight last seen - female suicide bombers
here she teams up with kristen stewart no doubt looking for a break
too much time in the twilight (films) so let's see how good she is
the film opens on a train in switzerland - ah familiarity is good
the main lady is playing maria enders who is a famous actor
kristen stewart is playing valentine her personal assistant
she seen juggling phones and phone calls in the moving train
consultation with maria as necessary for her input on issues
their conversation revealing the reason for their trip to zurich
maria is to talk at a ceremony honouring a famous director
he making her famous in a play 20 years prior about 2 women
maria played sigrid who has an affair with a older woman helena
seems helena is used by sigrid which leads to helena's suicide
ok noted - and also noted - the 3 levels of female relationships
juliette and kristen, maria and valentine, helena and sigrid
and in each case a significant age difference is in the mix
moving on - a phone call reveals that the director has died
so the celebration becomes a wake at which maria is the star
begrudgingly sharing the stage with a fellow actor and ex-lover
afterwards she is approached by a famous contemporary director
he wants to resurrect the play with maria now as the older helena
at first she resists but eventually she agrees to take on the challenge
the next day in the swiss alps maria and valentine visit the new widow
she is heading away so offers them her house for an indefinite period
perfect for maria to rehearse the play and an idyllic place to stay also
a walk in the alps overlooking a lake and snake-like cloud formation
the town is sils maria - the clouds (and play) known as the maloja snake
all good so far and all very nicely set up and relationships well defined
most enjoyable is the interplay between ms binoche and ms stewart
more so as kristen/valentine role-plays sigrid to juliet/maria as helena
very clever acting and directing going on to keep the roles distinct
intriguing too - close relationships being teased out on three levels
as we get comfortable with that a further female element is added
the director has engaged a famous young actor for the role of sigrid
jo-anne ellis is a superstar of her generation due to megahit films
ah clever - an actor revered and made famous like - kristen stewart
more multi-level acting going on as they all meet up for a love-in
maria (binoche), valentine (stewart) and jo-anne (chloe grace moretz)
art imitates life imitates art as they fawn over each other's careers
there are more complications with jo-anne having a secret affair
valentine similarly is conducting an affair with a photographer
maria maternally looks on and recalls her own sad love-life
valentine grows anxious about maria's dependence on her
this juxtaposed as they role-play the lovers in the play
then one day on a walk in the alps valentine disappears
we cut to several weeks later and it's opening night
a full house and maria ready to appear as helena
last-minute advice to jo-anne in her role as sigrid
but rejected - ok - all manner of significance there
the end - bravo - juliette binoche has done it again
the film itself full of actual and implied relationships
but so well acted and directed to make it quite absorbing
picked up all sorts of awards too including for kristen stewart
which kind of makes the film bleed over into reality - like that...
