Seberg

Seberg is a captivating and edgy political thriller, directed by Benedict Andrews and released in 2019. The movie stars Kristen Stewart, Yvan Attal, and Gabriel Sky, who each deliver emotional and compelling performances that drive the film's gripping narrative.

Kristen Stewart features in a leading role, portraying the iconic French New Wave actress Jean Seberg. Known for her role in titles such as "Breathless" and a symbol of the French New Wave Cinema, Jean Seberg was a formidable actress, however, this film explores the lesser-known and tragically oppressed part of her life.

Stewart's portrayal of Jean Seberg underwent an intensely dramatic personal and political transformation, highlighting her ability to take on gritty and profound roles. In Seberg, Stewart embodies the vulnerability, resilience, and internal conflict that framed Jean's life, allowing audiences to gain a fresh perspective on who Seberg really was, behind her glamorous Hollywood image.

The French actor Yvan Attal portrays Romain Gary, Seberg’s husband, an influential diplomat, novelist, and film director. Attal's effective portrayal provides an emotionally charged backdrop to Seberg's crisis and an attempt to maintain a sense of normalcy and stability amidst the storm that is brewing in her life.

Completing the trio is Gabriel Sky who manages to portray the young innocence perfectly, enabling the audience to witness the more humanizing aspects of Seberg’s life. The powerful performances of this cast illuminate the life of a woman beset by betrayal, manipulation, and intense scrutiny.

Set predominantly during the late 1960s, the film chronicles Jean Seberg’s involvement with the Black Panther Party and the consequent FBI surveillance aimed at discrediting her support for the civil rights movement. It interweaves elements from the crime and thriller genre with a biographical rendition of Jean Seberg’s life.

The movie extensively chronicles the psychological impact of intense public scrutiny and twisted political agendas imposed on a figure as public and as vulnerable as Jean Seberg. Her affair with Hakim Jamal (played by Anthony Mackie), a civil rights activist, puts her under the FBI’s radar, and substantial parts of the film present a chilling depiction of the surveillance she was subjected to.

The movie's narrative navigates the contrast between the glamour of Hollywood and the harsh reality of political activism. It explores how Jean Seberg's life became a tormented battlefield, reflecting the realities of living under constant surveillance. She became a casualty of Hoover’s COINTELPRO program, with the FBI looking to tarnish her reputation as a form of shifting public opinion against her and the causes she was publically supporting.

The film is also noted for its aesthetic appeal. The costume and set design accurately recreate the 1960s era, while the use of lighting and music enhance the movie's overall atmosphere and mood, making the audience feel as if they are right alongside the characters during this tumultuous period. The film is filled with close-ups that offer an intimate portrayal of her life, turmoil and bravery.

With a well-established cast and a complex storyline interlacing elements of politics, crime, and biography, Benedict Andrews’ Seberg is a riveting watch. This film takes viewers beyond the glitz and glamour associated with a successful Hollywood actress and hurls them into the darker side of fame, power, and political activism. It depicts the eerie reality of state surveillance and the devastating effects it had on one of cinema’s most famous faces.

In conclusion, Seberg is a movie that offers a deeper understanding of the tragedy and resilience defining Jean Seberg’s life. It is a thrilling narrative that gracefully intertwines crime, biography, and political themes together, served with stunning performances, and a warning tale about the abuse of power. This is not just a movie about a successful actress but a testament to the strength and courage of a woman that stood up for what she believed was right, even when facing the giants of government.