Directed by:
Olivier AssayasScreenplay:
Olivier AssayasCinematography:
Eric GautierComposer:
Philippe RichardCast:
Maggie Cheung, Jean-Pierre Léaud, Nathalie Richard, Antoine Basler, Nathalie Boutefeu, Alex Descas, Arsinée Khanjian, Bulle Ogier, Lou Castel (more)Plots(1)
Hong Kong action diva Maggie Cheung (Ashes of Time Redux, In the Mood for Love) plays herself in Olivier Assayas' spiky satire of the French film industry. After seeing her in Johnny To's Heroic Trio, past-his-prime director René Vidal (Jean-Pierre Léaud) impetuously casts Cheung as the lead in his remake of the silent classic Les Vampires. Unable to speak a word of French, Cheung tries to navigate the disorganized production while clad in a head-to-toe rubber catsuit and receiving cryptic direction from Vidal. Things only get crazier as she juggles a lovesick bisexual costumer (Nathalie Richard), a gossipy executive's wife (Bulle Ogier) and the whole backbiting crew. With freewheeling shots choreographed to the strains of Sonic Youth and Luna, Irma Vep immerses the viewer into the heady desperation and l'amour fou of modern moviemaking. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
Maggie Cheung
China
Best movies:
Comrades: Almost a Love Story (1996)
Hero (2002)
Police Story (1985)
Jean-Pierre Léaud
France
Best movies:
The 400 Blows (1959)
Day for Night (1973)
The Bohemian Life (1992)
Nathalie Richard
France
Best movies:
Up, Down, Fragile (1995)
After Love (2020)
The Wild Boys (2017)
Antoine Basler
Best movies:
A Prophet (2009)
Rendezvous in Paris (1995)
Irma Vep (1996)
Nathalie Boutefeu
France
Best movies:
A Secret (2007)
Irma Vep (1996)
Kings & Queen (2004)
Alex Descas
France
Best movies:
The House (1997)
Coffee and Cigarettes (2003)
The Intruder (2004)
Arsinée Khanjian
Lebanon
Best movies:
Next of Kin (1984)
The Sweet Hereafter (1997)
Felicia's Journey (1999)
Bulle Ogier
France
Best movies:
Don’t Forget You’re Going to Die (1995)
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972)
Navire Night (1979)
Lou Castel
Colombia
Best movies:
Fists in the Pocket (1965)
The Leopard (1963)
What Time Is It? (1989)
Jacques Fieschi
Algeria
Best movies:
To Our Loves (1983)
Irma Vep (1996)
Estelle Larrivaz
Best movies:
La Séparation (1994)
Irma Vep (1996)
Restons groupés (1998)
Smaïl Mekki
France
Best movies:
The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008)
Unpredictable Nature of the River (1996)
Irma Vep (1996)
Philippe Landoulsi
Best movies:
The French Revolution (1989) (TV movie)
Cover Up (1983)
André Téchiné's Rendez-Vous (1985)
Dominique Faysse
Best movies:
Irma Vep (1996)
Cold Water (1994)
Move Along, There Is Nothing to See (1983)
François-Renaud Labarthe
Best movies:
Irma Vep (1996)
Stranger by the Lake (2013)
Boarding Gate (2007)
Bernard Nissile
Switzerland
Best movies:
Queen Margot (1994)
The Adversary (2002)
L'Homme que j'aime (1997) (TV movie)
Nicolas Giraudi
Best movies:
Irma Vep (1996)
Fear City: A Family-Style Comedy (1994)
Scene of the Crime (1986)