Irma Vep

REVIEW
This winsome, though jumbled, examination of a Parisian film company's chaotic attempt to remake the 10-part, 1915 French silent serial classic, Les Vampires, pokes fun at the absurd intellectualism of the French film industry. Director Assayas prudently offers up this view through the eyes of an outsider, Cheung, who -- playing herself -- has been asked by the film's high-strung director, René (Leaud), to take on the role of the slinky, latex-clad cat-burglar heroine, Irma Vep. Cheung is a completely appealing character who gamely participates in whatever caprice the filmmakers can send her way including the attentions of the film's costumer (Richard) who develops a lesbian crush on her while acting as her tour guide and interpreter. The film's cohesion suffers as it wanders off in a multitude of directions (Cheung's cultural alienation in Paris, Leuad's nervous breakdown, Richard's tentative lesbain yearnings, and the scene-stealing Ogier as Richard's busybody friend), but its witty, hip attitude more than makes up for its shortcomings. (In English and French with English subtitles)