PERSONAL SHOPPER (2016)

Summary:

Personal Shopper is a psychological thriller with supernatural elements, starring Kristen Stewart as Maureen Cartwright, a young American woman working as a personal shopper for a demanding celebrity in Paris. Maureen is also a medium, struggling with profound grief over the recent death of her identical twin brother, Lewis, who passed away from a congenital heart condition she shares. Believing that Lewis will send her a sign from the afterlife, Maureen lingers in his former house, attempting to make contact.

The film masterfully blends Maureen's mundane, often frustrating professional life with her intense spiritual quest and a burgeoning, unsettling mystery involving anonymous text messages. As she navigates the glamorous yet hollow world of high fashion, she simultaneously delves into the unknown, seeking connection with the deceased while being drawn into a dangerous game of cat and mouse with an unseen entity. The narrative explores themes of grief, identity, materialism, and the permeable boundary between the living and the dead, culminating in a deeply ambiguous and thought-provoking conclusion.

Keywords: Personal Shopper, 2016, Kristen Stewart, Olivier Assayas, Drama, Thriller, Supernatural, Grief, Identity.

Plot:

Maureen Cartwright, a young American woman living in Paris, works as a personal shopper for Kyra, a demanding and famous fashion celebrity. Maureen’s life is overshadowed by a profound personal tragedy: the recent death of her identical twin brother, Lewis, from a congenital heart defect that Maureen also shares, making her constantly aware of her own mortality. Both Maureen and Lewis were mediums, and they made a pact that whichever one died first would send a sign to the other from the afterlife. Maureen spends her nights in Lewis's abandoned house on the outskirts of Paris, patiently waiting for this promised communication, sensing an undeniable but elusive presence.

Her initial attempts at contact are subtle and unsettling. She hears strange noises, objects shift, and lights flicker. One night, a series of violent tremors and objects flying through the air suggest a powerful spiritual presence, though it remains unseen. Maureen interprets these occurrences as Lewis attempting to manifest, yet she is still searching for a clearer, more definitive sign. During the day, her job involves sourcing high-end clothing and jewelry for Kyra, a role Maureen finds increasingly hollow and at odds with her spiritual pursuits. Kyra is often absent, leaving Maureen to manage her extravagant wardrobe and apartment, a stark contrast to Maureen's own simple life.

The narrative takes a sharp turn when Maureen begins receiving anonymous text messages. Initially, the messages are vague, asking if she is alone or questioning her actions. As they continue, they become increasingly personal and unsettling, hinting at an intimate knowledge of her life, her grief, and even her forbidden desires. The sender encourages her to break rules, specifically to try on Kyra's expensive, custom-made clothes, something Maureen has a secret longing to do but knows is strictly forbidden. Succumbing to the temptation, she tries on a transparent top and a leather harness, experiencing a thrill of transgression and a fleeting sense of empowerment, almost as if the messages are guiding her towards a new, dangerous identity.

The texts escalate in intensity and threat, leading Maureen on a bewildering journey. The sender claims to be Lewis, urging her to travel to London. Maureen, desperate for a sign, follows these instructions. While in London, she stays in a hotel room where the texts become even more cryptic and demanding. The sender knows her movements, her thoughts, and even her deepest fears, causing Maureen to question if this is truly her brother or a malicious entity, or perhaps even a living stalker. The messages become sexually suggestive and manipulative, pushing Maureen further into a state of anxiety and confusion. She finds herself drawn into a perverse game, unable to resist the pull of the unknown communicator.

Upon returning to Paris, Maureen discovers a horrific scene: Kyra has been brutally murdered in her apartment. The police, including a detective named Erwin, begin an investigation. Maureen is questioned, as she was one of the last people to see Kyra alive and has access to her apartment. Her alibi for the time of the murder is weak, as she was traveling and receiving the anonymous texts. The situation becomes even more terrifying when the anonymous texter begins sending her messages that clearly indicate knowledge of Kyra's murder, even describing details of the crime scene that haven't been released to the public. This makes Maureen a prime suspect in the eyes of the texter, and potentially in the eyes of the police if her phone were ever to be examined.

The texts continue to torment Maureen, pushing her to the brink. The sender implies that they are responsible for Kyra's death, or at least intimately connected to it. Maureen becomes convinced that the texter is either Lewis, trying to communicate through extreme means, or a malevolent spirit, or even a living person trying to frame her. She tries to trace the phone number, but it's untraceable, adding to the mystery. The psychological pressure mounts as Maureen grapples with grief, guilt, and fear, feeling increasingly isolated and targeted. She confesses her predicament to her boyfriend, Gary, who is working in Oman, but he offers little solace, unable to grasp the supernatural dimension of her ordeal.

In one particularly chilling sequence, Maureen, alone in her apartment, experiences a tangible, unseen presence. She senses a figure behind her, breathing on her neck, and then sees a glass move and shatter. It's a terrifying, visceral encounter that blurs the line between her perception and reality. This event, combined with the relentless texts, leads her to a breaking point. She becomes obsessed with identifying the sender, believing it holds the key to understanding Lewis's death and Kyra's murder. She suspects Kyra's jealous husband, Ingo, or even Kyra's former lover, but there is no concrete evidence.

The climax of the film sees Maureen traveling to Oman, where Gary is working. She is still receiving texts, and the sender instructs her to go to a specific hotel room. Inside, she finds no one. She sits on the bed, and a glass floats into the air and shatters. Then, a series of knocks occur: two knocks for "yes," one for "no." Maureen begins to ask questions aloud. "Lewis?" Two knocks. "Are you at peace?" Two knocks. "Are you the one who killed Kyra?" One knock. "Are you here now?" Two knocks. "Or is it just me?" The final question hangs in the air, unanswered. The film concludes with Maureen standing in the desert, looking out at the vast, empty landscape, her face a mixture of contemplation and lingering uncertainty. The ambiguity remains: Was it Lewis, a malevolent spirit, or a manifestation of her own grief and psychological distress? The film leaves the audience to ponder the nature of the supernatural and the profound impact of loss on the human psyche.

Cast (Lead Roles):

• Kristen Stewart as Maureen Cartwright
• Lars Eidinger as Ingo
• Sigrid Bouaziz as Lara
• Anders Danielsen Lie as Erwin
• Ty Olwin as Gary
• Nora von Waldstätten as Kyra
• Benjamin Biolay as Victor

Crew:

• Director: Olivier Assayas
• Writer: Olivier Assayas
• Producer: Charles Gillibert
• Cinematography: Yorick Le Saux
• Film Editor: Marion Monnier
• Music: Sonic Youth (featured song "Kool Thing")

Release Info:

• Original Release Date: May 17, 2016 (Cannes Film Festival)
• Language: English, French, German
• Genre: Drama, Thriller, Mystery, Supernatural
• Running Time: 105 minutes
• Accolades: Olivier Assayas won the Best Director award at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival (tied with Cristian Mungiu for *Graduation*).