In this visually stunning movie, Juliette Binoche once again shows her incredible depth playing actress Maria Enders. She teams up with Kristen Stewart as Maria’s personal assistant Val, the role that won Stewart a historic César award – the first ever awarded to an American actress.

Filmed mainly in English, the title refers to the snake-like cloud formation that goes through Switzerland’s Sils Maria valley.

In the first part of the film, Enders is on her way by train to accept an award on behalf of the playwright who launched her career, as a nineteen-year-old, in a play between two women – one young, one older. While on the journey she’s informed that the playwright has passed away.

In the second part, Enders is asked to play the older woman in the play while up-and-comer Jo-Ann Ellis (Moretz) is asked to play the ingénue. Enders is conflicted about playing the role of the vulnerable woman and about the reputation of the young actress who is going to take over ‘her’ role.

This film deals with death and ageing, and filmgoers might find similarities to the Semester One film Maps to the Stars where Julianne Moore also played a veteran actress struggling with impending obsolescence. This film sees the sudden, inexplicable disappearance part-way through of one particular character, but don’t let that spoil the film for what it is: an amazing look at the short lifespan of a thespian.

See this movie to understand the trials and tribulations of fame, filmmaking, dealing with agents, media scrambles and self-promotion – all part of an ongoing game to avoid falling out of the celebrity limelight.