Irma Vep (1996)

Director:

Olivier Assayas

Writer:

Olivier Assayas (written by)

Release Date:

30 April 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

A Chinese movie actress, in France to star in a remake of "Les Vampires", finds petty intrigues and clashing egos on the set.

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Actress | Chinese | Hotel | Anagram

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Maggie Cheung	...	Maggie
Jean-Pierre Léaud	...	René Vidal
Nathalie Richard	...	Zoé
Antoine Basler	...	Journalist
Nathalie Boutefeu	...	Laure
Alex Descas	...	Desormeaux
Dominique Faysse	...	Maïté
Arsinée Khanjian	...	L'américaine
Bernard Nissile	...	Markus
Olivier Torres	...	Ferdinand / Moreno
Bulle Ogier	...	Mireille
Lou Castel	...	José Mirano
Jacques Fieschi	...	Roland
Estelle Larrivaz	...	La standardiste
Balthazar Clémenti	...	Robert, assistant
Lara Cowez	...	Script supervisor
Dominique Cuny	...	Grip
Jessica Doyle	...	Jessica, Roland's Friend
Sandra Faure	...	Vendeuse, sex-shop
Catherine Ferny	...	Policewoman
Maryel Ferraud	...	Make-up Woman
Filip Forgeau	...	Camera Operator
Valerie Guy	...	Valerie, in Mireille's apartment
Laurent Jacquet	...	Electrician
Philippe Landoulsi	...	Inspector
Smaïl Mekki	...	Kermor, unit manager
Maurice Najman	...	Maurice, Roland's Friend
Nicolas Giraudi	...	Directeur de la production
Yann Richard	...	Kevin
Jérôme Simonin	...	Property Man
Alexandra Yonnet	...	Lili, Markus's Friend
Pierre Amzallag	...	Emergency Doctor
Françoise Clavel	...	René's Wife
Françoise Guglielmi	...	Producer
Odile Horion	...	Zoë's Assistant
François-Renaud Labarthe	...	TV Cameraman
Alain Martin	...	Boy at Cafe Des Oiseaux
Guy-Patrick Sainderichin	...	TV Dignitary
Willy Martin	...	Bellboy

Directed by
Olivier Assayas

Writing credits
Olivier Assayas		(written by)

Produced by
Georges Benayoun	....	producer
Françoise Guglielmi	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Philippe Richard
Philippe Richard		(music by)

Cinematography by
Eric Gautier

Film Editing by
Luc Barnier

Casting by
Pierre Amzallag

Art Direction by
François-Renaud Labarthe

Set Decoration by
Yann Richard

Costume Design by
Françoise Clavel

Makeup Department
Isabelle Nyssen	....	makeup artist
Nancy Tong	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Sylvie Barthet	....	production manager
Ivan Fegyveres	....	assistant unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alice de Andrade	....	assistant director
François-Renaud Labarthe	....	assistant director
Jérôme Tardieu	....	second assistant director (as Jerôme Tardieu)

Art Department
Christophe Mercier	....	location finder

Sound Department
William Flageollet	....	sound mixer
Laurent Lévy	....	foley artist
Olivier Marlangeon	....	foley artist
Marie-Christine Ratel	....	sound editor
Philippe Richard	....	sound engineer
Marie-Christine Ruh	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Grégoire Delage	....	special effects
Olivier Zenenski	....	special effects

Stunts
Michel Julienne	....	stunt consultant
Leslie Rain	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
François Berroir	....	gaffer
Jean-Luc Bezeau	....	key grip
Xavier Cholet	....	electrician
Stéphane Fontaine	....	first assistant camera
Sophie Lemaire	....	clapper loader
Sophie Lemaire	....	second assistant camera
Michel Michau	....	electrician
Isabelle Weingarten	....	still photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jessica Doyle	....	costume designer: Irma Vep

Editorial Department
Tina Baz	....	assistant editor
Nabila Daniault	....	color timer
Raymond Terrentin	....	color timer

Other crew
Dina Arbib	....	assistant director
Edmée Doroszlai	....	script supervisor
Philippe Letode	....	location scout

Thanks
Claire Denis	....	thanks
Christopher Doyle	....	thanks
Stanley Kwan	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Dacia Films
• Canal+ (participation)

Distributors

• Cinema Mondo (1998) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Good Movies (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Herald Film Company (Japan) (theatrical)
• NFM Distributie (1997) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Zeitgeist Films (1997) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Atalanta Filmes (Portugal)
• Fox Lorber (USA) (DVD)
• Prime Time Entertainment (1997) (Netherlands) (video)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (video) (VOD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

France

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Finland:S | France:U | Norway:7 | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:11 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Australia:M | UK:15 (video rating) | Philippines:PG-13

Company:

Dacia Films

Trivia:

The title is the anagram of "vampire".

Goofs:

Continuity: After René says, "respect the silence" to Maggie, he speaks to a woman and takes a drink from a big plastic Coke bottle. He screws the cap on, then hands her the bottle. She turns around, and the cap is missing.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Story of Film: An Odyssey: Episode #1.13" (2011)

Soundtrack:

Tunic(Song for Karen)

Sexy, funny, smart, sad, EXCELLENT.

Unlike Scoopy, I say this movie is WELL worth the effort and time, especially if you're familiar with the French New Wave. Jean-Pierre Leaud, one of the biggest stars of the period (he was the little boy in Francois Truffaut's seminal "The 400 Blows" [no pun intended]) is hilarious as a caricature of Godard in particular and French filmmakers in general, and the rooftop interview with (the stunning) Maggie Cheung refers to both Godard's "Breathless" and, indirectly, Fellini's "8 1/2." Though it pokes good fun at the pretentiousness of the French New Wave, "Irma Vep" is also a tender elegy to a time in which movies were actually viewed as art, as something that really MATTERED. Add to the humor and intelligence some really witty direction, superstylish cinematography, and a slew of beautiful people, and you got yerself a postmodern masterpiece and just maybe one last, great film of the New Wave.