Clouds of Sils Maria

Name: Clouds of Sils Maria
Genre: Drama
Released: April 10, 2015
Duration: 124 min
Rating: 79
Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart

2015

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Generally favorable reviews based on 42 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 99 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 99 Ratings

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Clouds Of Sils Maria

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Movie Details & Credits

IFC Films | Release Date: April 10, 2015 | R

Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz, Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart

Summary: At the peak of her international career, Maria Enders (Juliette Binoche) is asked to perform in a revival of the play that made her famous twenty years ago. But back then she played the role of Sigrid, an alluring young girl who disarms and eventually drives her boss Helena to suicide. Now she is being asked to step into the other role,At the peak of her international career, Maria Enders (Juliette Binoche) is asked to perform in a revival of the play that made her famous twenty years ago. But back then she played the role of Sigrid, an alluring young girl who disarms and eventually drives her boss Helena to suicide. Now she is being asked to step into the other role, that of the older Helena. She departs with her assistant (Kristen Stewart) to rehearse in Sils Maria; a remote region of the Alps. A young Hollywood starlet with a penchant for scandal (Chloë Grace Moretz) is to take on the role of Sigrid, and Maria finds herself on the other side of the mirror, face to face with an ambiguously charming woman who is, in essence, an unsettling reflection of herself.… Expand

Director: Olivier Assayas

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 124 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Jon Frosch

Nov 8, 2022

Binoche and Stewart, who has never before exuded so much mystery or nuance, share the screen for much of the movie, and they make a fascinating odd couple; with the former’s high-strung intensity and the latter’s cool watchfulness, the two are a study in contrasting performing styles. Read full review

IndieWire Eric Kohn

May 25, 2014

The typically great Binoche conveys a tantalizing mixture of confidence and unease as she considers her glamorous past and undetermined future. Read full review

Steven Rea

Apr 17, 2015

Hugely affecting - and reflective and witty. Read full review

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

May 25, 2014

If Assayas's film finally falls just shy of being great art itself, it is at least handsomely staged and played with conviction. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Apr 16, 2015

It’s not a combination most of us would’ve thought of, but Stewart and Binoche bring out the best in each other. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Apr 9, 2015

Clouds Of Sils Maria. swirls with provocative ideas, but they’re talked about more than dramatized Read full review

Kyle Smith

Apr 8, 2015

A backstage drama that has all the sizzle of a glass of water resting on the windowsill, Olivier Assayas’ Clouds of Sils Maria mistakes lack of dramatic imagination for smoldering subtlety. Read full review

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User Reviews

GinaK

Dec 27, 2015

A haunting film by Olivier Assayas about art, time, and irony. An actress who made her name playing the younger woman in a play about the relationship of two woman (one younger and one older) is asked many years later to play the older woman. She hesitates but finally agrees and thenA haunting film by Olivier Assayas about art, time, and irony. An actress who made her name playing the younger woman in a play about the relationship of two woman (one younger and one older) is asked many years later to play the older woman. She hesitates but finally agrees and then ironically has an even greater success as the older woman. The film follows the actress, played magnificently by Juliette Binoche as she hesitates and then prepares for the new production, and Assayas manages to mix the actress’s feelings with the text of the play so that you never quite know if the actress or her character in the play is speaking. The supporting cast members, especially Kristen Stewart, are also superb.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

thesbian

May 26, 2015

Terrible title, but a riveting mirror on the times in which we live... Binoche's mania is magnificent, as always. (Damn, she`s hot.) Watching the film is like watching a news report of a train wreak; you want to avert your eyes, but the curiosity of human nature pulls you in to take aTerrible title, but a riveting mirror on the times in which we live... Binoche's mania is magnificent, as always. (Damn, she`s hot.) Watching the film is like watching a news report of a train wreak; you want to avert your eyes, but the curiosity of human nature pulls you in to take a closer look and find out what's really happening. An artistic film with multiple layers of complexity commentary on women and aging in our technology driven media. (See Maggie Gyllenhaal's recent media response). Post-processing the film with my lesbian partner over dinner in West Portal was in some ways more enjoyable than watching the film as the Jungian style story line teases and frustrates. But a film is art and shouldn't always please. Essentially a masterpiece - talented acting, an intricate maze of a story and intense mythic imagery. A classic on par with Elia Kazan's A Face in the Crowd. See this film now or after award season; eventually you must see this film. All I can say is: More, more, more!… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

beingryanjude

May 25, 2015

The most unlikely bond between Juliette Binoche and Kristen Stewart is captivating and beautiful. Binoche proves her gifted presence while Stewart continues to redeem any diminished talent. The parallels within the film are plentiful--the results are overwhelming.

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

Thomass

Jun 24, 2017

This is quite a good movie but I felt it was also a missed opportunity. The many excellent themes brought out in the body of the picture are not really concluded well in my opinion. I felt this would have been very difficult to do because so much is there. Excellent performances and I haveThis is quite a good movie but I felt it was also a missed opportunity. The many excellent themes brought out in the body of the picture are not really concluded well in my opinion. I felt this would have been very difficult to do because so much is there. Excellent performances and I have never seen Kristen Stewart so remarkably good. The movie is really worth seeing just for these performances . I just felt it could have been less artsy and more resolved. So if you can accept a drawback it is definitely worth it.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

TVJerry

May 4, 2015

Kristen Stewart plays the personal assistant to star Juliette Binoche, whose career was launched at 18, when she was in a play. The play is being revived and she's been cast in the older role. The film is almost exclusively this duo in general conversation and intellectual discussion aboutKristen Stewart plays the personal assistant to star Juliette Binoche, whose career was launched at 18, when she was in a play. The play is being revived and she's been cast in the older role. The film is almost exclusively this duo in general conversation and intellectual discussion about the play, as they travel from a retrospective event in Zurich to a remote house in the Alps (surrounded by gorgeous scenery). With any lesser actors, this could be a tedious bore. With these two, it's always interesting, even though it's still lots of talk. Director Olivier Assayas has tossed in some stylistic surprises and a few story elements that scream "foreign film." Don't expect any big moments. Just settle in for an intimate examination of ageism, fame and relationships.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

LeZee

Nov 4, 2016

The actors and their generation difference, evolution of cinema and the beauty of nature.

This is about a middle aged actress who spends in the Swiss Alps with her personal assistant while preparing for the upcoming project. During that time, she receives a news that the author of theThe actors and their generation difference, evolution of cinema and the beauty of nature.

This is about a middle aged actress who spends in the Swiss Alps with her personal assistant while preparing for the upcoming project. During that time, she receives a news that the author of the book which was adapted for the screen 20 years ago where she play a main role and now in its remake, she's doing another part, while a young sensation playing the main part. This is more like the evolution of cinema. The 20 years is too soon for her, while the cinema and its trend advanced rapidly. Precisely to say, the commercial films and young actors taking over the art films and true artists' places respectively.

If you at least 30 years old, you would get this film more than others. Because while I was growing up in the 90s, the cinema was so different. I'm not talking about the technology like computer graphics, but the story and how it was narrated for the screen. Now the science- fiction and dystopian themes taking over with the young audience and social media support. I think it was a quite meaningful film, particularly if you adore films like the recent evolution in cinema was so faster than ever.

The negatives were, the film was too long, slow pace and too simple drama. The positives were, the actors and their performances, the locations, theme and some of the dialogues. Directed by a French filmmaker, this is an international project with a few guest appearances. Most of the film was set in the Alps. Totally different than what I was anticipating, but I still like, except in a few parts where I got bored for its weak development. So this is for the selected audience, that mean it will be appreciated by a very few and I'm kind of neutral with mostly in its favour.

6/10… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

valkuk

May 3, 2015

As with other films that have relied on the audiences' imagination to move the story forward (Boyhood) where in fact there is none or in this case a missed opportunity, I would like to point to the core problem that the filmmakers are trying to conceal. Primarily limited to bad acting inAs with other films that have relied on the audiences' imagination to move the story forward (Boyhood) where in fact there is none or in this case a missed opportunity, I would like to point to the core problem that the filmmakers are trying to conceal. Primarily limited to bad acting in favor of marketability. I am always suspicious of actors when they wear glasses. They are using a prop not to intelligently enhance their chearcter but rather to hide their own deficiencies. I fully understand the intent of the Olivier's script, But boy what a shock it must have been when he realized that Kristin does not have the wherewithall to carry the emotional/psychological weight of her character. Poor Juilette was left stranded on her own with noone to play against. The script was screaming for the supporting actress to carry the story through facial and bodily expressions. Those attempts of outbursts by Kristin were ingenuous and I could see the struggle in the editing room to help cover up her flaws.... And what the hell were those underpants and black bra???? If anyone should have been naked in that scene it was Kristin!!! (a further indicator of how limited her acting education is). I can feel your pain Olivier. Better try next time ... keep away from star **** a little bit and maybe you will have a more satisfying result.… Expand

1 of 7 users found this helpful16

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