Maureen (Kristen Stewart) hates her job. However, the saving grace of being a personal shopper for a Paris fashionista is that it allows her to remain in Paris and provides time to concentrate on moonlighting as a medium in search of her recently deceased brother’s spirit. After an encounter with a ghost at her family home, Maureen begins receiving mysterious text messages. Unsure of who or what is sending the texts, she is compelled to connect.
Director Olivier Assayas’ first entry into psychologically potent material gives him a stretch and he moves beyond a ghost story to a subtle commentary on connection and technology. Assayas shows how easily technology has become the go-to tool for combating loneliness and reshaping identities. The strange sense of anonymity that technology provides is compelling and in Personal Shopper could have dire consequences.
But everyone involved in the film, from cinematographer Yorick Le Saux’s camera closely stalking Maureen, to the sound designer’s off-screen soundscape, to the composer’s music sneaking up on us with predatory intent, create a singular work.
For Kristen Stewart, it’s her second film for Olivier Assayas and similar to the assistant she played in Sils Maria (VFF 2014), and she again brings a controlled subtly to the screen.
I've rarely seen a film that is as unsettling in a very subtle way as this one.
For physical events that happen at a specific time. For example a concert, or dance performance. If there are multiple shows, you can still duplicate your event to cover them all.
In-Person Event
Fri. February 3rd 2017 + Add to Calendar
Vic Theatre
9:00pm
$10.50
