What is it to be feminine in the modern world?
But like the multi-generational casting, there are layers deeper in Assayas screenplay than simply the characters ages.
Not necessarily by surprise, Assayas thoughtful deliberation on actors becomes a performers showcase for its three leads.
It is a prudent and successful subversion by both the director and the actress.
Valentines relationship with her employer is both that of intimate and provocateur.
Life is not over after middle-age, even for an actress.
This distinction is lost on the wonderfully coarse Jo-Ann.
Time otherwise passes like those Alpine clouds around her, but Maria remains at a defiant standstill.
The elegance of this old-fashioned objective is transformative for both the cast and the audience.
This review was first published on October 8, 2014.
Rating:
5 out of 5
