Maria is at the prime of her acting career, and decides to reappear in the film that made her famous 20 years ago. At the time, she had played the role of a young woman who leads her boss to suicide with her fatal attraction. Now she is playing the boss. To rehearse she retreats, with her assistant, to Sils Maria, a secluded town deep in the Alps. The film makes a candid statement about the situations facing actors as they age, and presents the life and psyche of a middle-aged actress. The camera portrays the different aspects of a professional agonizing over a role she accepted, as well as the subtle feelings she has as she looks upon her young assistant. Juliette Binoche is the star that makes this film shine with her charisma, and the “Maloja Snake” captured by Assayas’ camera towards the end of the film brings about a unique type of healing. This is a masterpiece created by French director Olivier Assayas and top actress Juliette Binoche. (RHEE Soue-won)