Clean

Aroview: An unorthodox drugs movie from the always-interesting Olivier Assayas (IRMA VEP), this distills with refreshing clarity the aftermath of addiction with Maggie Cheung in the role of a washed-up musician trying to rebuild her life and career.

Jailed for possession following her rock-star husband’s death by overdose, Cheung (in three languages) turns in a frizzled, emotionally modulated performance supported aptly by Nick Nolte, who displays restrained austerity as the grandfather of an estranged son she's determined to win back. Though depicting the indie music scene rather insipidly with an artist’s self-importance, this flies high as a pure, forthright drama, with Assayas' uncluttered direction the antithesis of the 'grungy' extremities normally associated with the genre. Reputedly Cheung’s last ever film as an actress.

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