tlavideo.com

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. Hong Kong superstar Maggie Cheung -- playing herself -- is 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 as well as the rantings of the film's backstabbing control freak production manager. The lesbian aspect is handled quite well, with Cheung appreciative of the attention, but not interested in a fling. (In English and French with English subtitles)