MOVIE: Personal Shopper bags high praise

KRISTEN Stewart’s acting ability may have been unfairly judged in some circles who refer to her dismissively as “that girl from the Twilight movies”. 

Closer inspection would reveal something different, and in her new film, ‘Personal Shopper’, Stewart tries on the garments of a leading lady, a role she wears with an impressive ease and quiet power.

The movie tells the story of Maureen, a young American woman living in Paris and working as a high-fashion personal shopper to the stars. But Maureen is also a spiritual medium, grieving the recent death of her twin brother, Lewis. 

In that capacity she finds herself employed by the prospective buyers of her brother’s old house, who want to make sure that all traces of his spirit are gone before they move in. 

This is a role that Maureen happily takes on, secretly hoping for one last sign from Lewis, so she can let his spirit rest in peace. 

But when strange texts start to arrive from someone who seems to know her every move, Maureen begins to wonder could this really be her dead brother trying to make contact from beyond the grave? 

The film is written and directed by Olivier Assayas who won the Best Director award at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. 

Assayas directed the 2014 critically acclaimed ‘Clouds of Sils Maria’, also starring Stewart, this time alongside Juliette Binoche, so the two obviously have a creative bond that generates good work. 

While it may look like a regular run of the mill haunted house tale from the outset, ‘Personal Shopper’ reveals itself to be much more than that. It explores the interesting subject of life after death as well as more standard themes of betrayal, loss and sanity. 

All of these meaty matters hang on the model-like shoulders of Stewart, who is more than up to the job. This is her show and she steals it in a spellbindingly breathtaking performance. 

Your heart may skip a few beats during some of the scarier moments, especially the ending, but it’s worth it for a film we score a haunting 4 out of 5 stars.

Paul O’Rourke