Movie star Maria Enders (Juliette Binoche) and her assistant (Kristen Stewart) arrive in the Alps where Maria prepares for a play she’s done before; then she played the younger character, now she’ll be the older one, which she finds challenging. The director wrote this film for Binoche, who’s magnificent (much like the Alps scenery). There are more questions than answers in this mysterious movie where reality blends with the drama of the play, as Binoche and Stewart keeps rehearsing lines. Their relationship remains intriguing, but this is also an effective look at actors aging in their business.
2014-France-Germany-Switzerland. 123 min. Color. Widescreen. Written and directed by Olivier Assayas. Cinematography: Yorick Le Saux. Cast: Juliette Binoche (Maria Enders), Kristen Stewart (Valentine), Chloë Grace Moretz (Jo-Ann Ellis), Johnny Flynn, Lars Eidinger, Hanns Zischler.
Trivia: Alternative title: Sils Maria. Mia Wasikowska was reportedly first cast as Valentine; Daniel Brühl was considered for another part.
