Olivier Assayas's 'Clouds of Sils Maria' (2014)

In this episode, I talk about Olivier Assayas's 2014 film "Clouds of Sils Maria." It's a complex film starring Juliette Binoche as Maria Enders, an actress who shot to stardom in her youth when she acted in a play about an older woman who is seduced by a younger woman. 20 years ago, she played the younger woman but now, in a revival of the play, she is set to play the older woman. This role brings up her fears about aging. Kristen Stewart stars alongside Binoche as an assistant to Maria Enders. To me, the heart of the film is the complicated relationship between these two women and the different ways they see life and the world. I also think this is a fascinating film about the process that an actress goes through to get into character. I talk about all that and much more. There are spoilers in this episode.

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Full Show Notes:

• Use the code "CINEMA" to get your first month free at OVID.TV
• My favorite films on OVID
• Her Head in Films on Instagram
• My episode on Ingmar Bergman's Summer Interlude
• My episode on John Cassavetes's Opening Night
• Rendezvous (1985)
• Girl Pictures by Justine Kurland
• My episode on Michelangelo Antonioni's L'avventura

Sources:

• Criterion Collection edition of Clouds of Sils Maria
• Juliette Binoche Explains the Difference Between a Celebrity and a Star (Vanity Fair)
• Olivier Assayas Talks Clouds of Sils Maria (IndieWire)
• Kristen Stewart Interview (The Independent)
• Interview: Kristen Stewart Adored Making Clouds of Sils Maria with Juliette Binoche (Metro)