THE themes of youth versus experience and artistic films versus commercial blockbusters are explored in Olivier Assayas’s astute drama about middle-aged stars in the cinema industry.

In it, the renowned Maria Enders (Juliette Binoche) is forced to face her ageing demons when she agrees to star in the revival of the play that launched her career 20 years earlier. Yet, instead of the ingenue, she’s asked to play the older role of Helena. Ouch.

With her trusted assistant (Kristen Stewart) juggling two phones, she heads to Sils Maria in Switzerland to rehearse.

Binoche and Stewart are sublime as they spar off each other and an in-depth peroration by Stewart about the artistic merits of Hollywood franchises is priceless.

With echoes of All About Eve plus the exquisite and powerful performances from the female leads, along with Chloe Grace Moretz as the infamous troubled teen star, this insightful and ironic drama is a must-see.