Clouds Of Sils Maria

Parental Rating: R

Contains: Language    Nudity    Drug Use    Adult Content    

Jill's Review

Opens April 24, 2015

Runs 124 minutes

Maria Enders (Juliette Binoche) is a world famous actress at the peak of her career. She is on her way to accept an award on behalf of Wilhelm Melchior, the author of the play - Maloya Snake - that launched her career 20 years ago. As she and her assistant Valentine (Kristen Stewart) head toward the award ceremony, they are informed that Wilhelm has passed away. Maria is quite shaken but agrees to accept the award because that is what Wilhelm would have wanted. After the ceremony, she is asked to join the revival of the famous play only this time she will not be playing the ingenue Sigrid, but the older Helena who is driven to apparent suicide by Sigrid. Maria and Valentine head to Wilhelm's hometown of Sils Maria to rehearse the play. She and Valentine hike, discuss movies and run lines together. But, Maria is very insecure playing the older Helena. She still "feels" like Sigrid and can't relate to the older character. Valentine must constantly push her to accept that the role of Helena is just as important as that of Sigrid. When she meets Jo-Ann Ellis (Chloë-Grace Moretz), the Hollywood starlet cast as Sigrid, she is forced to come face-to-face with the fact that she is no longer the young actress she once was.

This movie will not be for everyone. It is definitely an art film. But, I loved it. The acting is terrific. Juliette Binoche is still radiant and Kristen Stewart gives a great performance (in fact, she won the French Cesar Award for her role in this movie). The movie is full of conversations between the two actresses about life and love. They run lines together and sometimes it is hard to tell if thay are talking, arguing or still reciting lines of the play back and forth. Life starts to imitate art in this film. That's what makes this so interesting. And, even in a small role, Chloe-Grace Moretz shines. The looks she can give with just a smile...wow! The name of the movie and the name of the play both relate to the clouds that roll down over the river early in the morning and form a "snake" as they work their way over the valley. This forms a pivotal scene near the end of the movie that may leave you shaking your head or just saying hmmmm. But, it kinda makes sense and I just went with it. Loved the movie. Go see it.

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