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Irma Vep

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“Irma Vep is a chic
  French film that sends up
  art-house pretensions
  with a vengeance. It stars
  Asian cinema superstar
  Maggie Cheung as herself
  and — in the film within a
  film — the title role...”

HAVING BEEN BROUGHT TO FRANCE to take the starring role of Irma Vep in an ill-advised remake of a silent classic — Louis Feuillade's Les Vampires — Maggie Cheung (2046, In The Mood For Love and epic martial arts films such as Hero) finds herself drawn into the diverse lives of the cast and crew — a mixed bunch of actors and technicians, including the Director René Vidal (Jean-Pierre Léaud), a once big-shot film director who is slowly losing the plot.

Vidal is keen for Maggie to have the part of Irma Vep as he couldn't envisage a French actress in the part.

Costume designer Zoë (Nathalie Richard) befriends Maggie, but does she have ulterior motives? And with Vidal rapidly succumbing to a breakdown, will the film ever be completed? In an interview with a journalist, Maggie strongly supports Vidal, even though the journalist keeps praising John Woo.

However, Maggie has become obsessed with the part she is playing in this tongue-in-cheek film — the black latex-clad Irma Vep (an anagram for 'vampire') — and has taken to prowling the hotel, acting like a cat burglar. In one memorable scene she finds herself on the rooftops in a rainstorm from where she deliberately drops a necklace she has stolen.

There are black-and-white scenes used to interesting effect and we get a fascinating insight into the often-twisted and eccentric world
of filmmaking. The acting is very casual; some of it reminiscent of a documentary. Whatever you think of this type of film, Irma Vep is described as "a genuine cult classic and a real treasure" and is certainly worth a look.

"Cinema is not magic. It's a technique and a science. A technique born of science and at the service of a will. The will of the workers to free themselves" — writing on the wall in Irma Vep.

• Irma Vep makes its UK debut on DVD on 31 March (2008), courtesy of Second Sight, at an RRP of £19.99.

Special Features include Man Yuk — Portrait of Maggie Cheung; Interview with Olivier Assayas/Charles Tesson; Interview with Maggie Cheung/Nathalie Richard; Maggie Cheung Rushes; Trailer.

"Cheung is superb" — Empire

"A wonderful tribute to filmmaking" — Channel4.com

"Fine performances throughout" — Time Out

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