'Clouds Of Sils Maria' Review: The Dark Side Of Aging
Clouds of Sils Maria is a coming of age story about accepting the aging process. That may sound strange, but these types of narratives aren't only reserved for those transitioning from adolescence to a teenager. This is about being mature enough to accept adulthood and letting go of the restriction that growing older places one’s beauty and talent.
Maria (Juliette Binoche) is an aging actress who is in denial about the direction of her career due to her age. She owes her stardom to having been in both stage and screen versions of the famed play Maloja Snake, which focuses on a sapphic and tempestuous relationship between a young girl and an older woman. Maria has been asked to fill in as the older woman in the same play where she once played the young maiden. This troubles her and rightfully so. Maria has to deal with adjusting to her new role, the death of a close friend, and a divorce all at the same time. As her ordeal begins to worsen, she begins to realize that art imitates life as the events of Maloja Snake begins to mirror her own life.
Maria takes everything for granted and she knows it. Growing old has made her forget that she still has a successful acting career, equipped with a loyal personal assistant Valentine (Kristen Stewart) who keeps everything in check. But it’s easy to become disillusioned by the glitz and glam of the movie business, especially when you’re premenopausal. Hollywood is harsh for women over 30 as they have to jump through hoops for scrap work. Not Maria. She’s being sought after for multiple jobs. Some would say she should be grateful, but she deserves more credit. She is taking control of her life, her career, and that should be celebrated.
One of the highlights of Sils Maria is the performances. Juliette Binoche is a seasoned actress who is unafraid to take on roles outside of the norm. Her portrayal as Maria, a woman in the middle of a midlife crisis is played with ease and confidence. Kristen Stewart gives the audience a true to life representation of what it's like to be a Hollywood personal assistant and the chemistry between Stewart and Binoche is strong, relaxed, and genuine. Kristen Stewart really impressed me with her performance. She is definitely on the road to discovering who she is as an actress and proven she is a forced to be reckoned with.
Another young actress who has shown she has a bright career ahead of her is Chloe Moretz. She plays the young actress sent to star beside Maria in the updated theater version of Maloja Snake. Moretz has come a long way since playing 'Hit Girl' in Mark Milar's Kick-Ass and is really working hard to establish herself as a capable actress.
Unfortunately, the direction is not as good as the performances and makes the story appear inconsistent at times. It becomes obvious that Maria is experiencing a change but the change is executed in an odd, and minuscule fashion that slows the flow of the film. The editing is choppy as actors are cut off in the middle of monologues to transition to the next scene. There is also a subplot with Kristen Stewart that could have really enhanced the story and bridged the connection between Maria and Valentine, but that wasn't explained or resolved by the film’s end.
By the closing, it felt like story and direction had run out of steam, so it started to clog itself with filler scenes that didn't add to Maria's journey. But what the movie lacks in editing and direction it makes up for in eye candy. Clouds of Sils Maria is a beautiful looking film. It is set against the backdrop of the majestic mountains of Switzerland. With lush and vibrant colors, the setting really pulls you in and makes you feel like you’re right there with the cast.
If you are interest in a character study and superb performances, be sure to pick up this film on DVD.
