A review of the film “Personal Shopper”
I much admired “Clouds Of Sils Maria” which was both written and directed by the French Olivier Assayas with the American Kristen Stewart in an important support role. In “Personal Shopper”, again Assayas is both writer and director and this time Stewart is the leading actress.
The story is set largely in Paris although, in the main, the dialogue is in English. In this supernatural psychological thriller, Stewart takes the eponymous role as both aide to a supermodel and a psychic seeking to make contact with her recently deceased twin brother.
The film divided the 2016 Cannes Film Festival: on its initial screening, it was booed but, at its official premiere, it received a long standing ovation and won the Best Director prize. Generally I don’t like movies featuring the supernatural, but here Stewart – who is rarely off the screen – gives an impressive ethereal performance.