Film Of The Week

French writer-director, Olivier Assayas, has assembled an appealing and diverse cast for this meditative film partly set in stunning Swiss Alps scenery. The always watchable Juliette Binoche shares the screen with young American actresses, Kristen Stewart and Chlöe Grace Moretz, in a fascinating psychological exploration of female relationships and insecurities.

Binoche plays Maria, an acclaimed French actress who gained fame 20 years ago in a film called Maloja Snake. Maria played a young woman who drives her older boss, who’s infatuated with her, to suicide. Now, Maria is considering starring in the stage version, this time playing the older, less flattering role. But is it too big a risk? As she and her personal assistant, Val (Stewart), travel to Zurich to honour Wilhelm, the original film’s director and Maria’s former mentor, she learns that Wilhelm has just died. 

Maria isn’t keen on taking the acting role, but after Val talks her into it, she resigns herself to learning the script with Val’s help. Val’s the type of dedicated PA who takes care of everything for Maria but even she starts to question how much of herself she has to give as Maria’s increasing anxieties and demands make Val their target. At the same time, their personal dynamic starts to become eerily reminiscent of the roles they’re rehearsing. 

Then there’s the young actress who will play the role that shot Maria to fame all those years ago. Enter Moretz as Hollywood brat, Jo-Ann Ellis. Her new sci-fi blockbuster film makes Maria cringe but Val defends Jo-Ann in an amusingly self-reflective scene where Kristen Stewart could almost be defending her most famous role, Bella in the Twilight franchise. 

Olivier Assayas, whose many credits include Paris, Je T’aime and the 1996 cult classic, Irma Vep, obviously relishes having three charismatic actresses in his capable hands. Binoche is as compelling as usual, and Stewart won the French version of an Academy Award, a César, for her role. Moretz, although known for pop culture hits Kick-Ass and Carrie, has shown herself to be a young actress of substance with films such as Hugo and Let Me In, and she holds her own in impressive company.

Then there’s the gorgeous backdrop of Wilhelm’s home in the mountains – where the clouds of the title appear as the actual Maloja Snake – winding their way through the valley between mountains to look like a serpent. There’s a lot to love about this film.

Releases 7 May - Blue Room Cinebar, Palace Barracks, Hoyts Stafford, New Farm Cinemas, Regal Twin Graceville, Gold Coast Arts Centre, Cinemax Kingscliffe

by Vicki Englund