Alexandre O. Philippe’s latest cinephile study rethinks Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo by foregrounding Kim Novak as the guiding presence behind the film. The documentary revisits the 1958 thriller through Novak’s memories and artifacts, inviting viewers to see Vertigo as a work that belongs to its star as much as to its director.
The narrative unfolds from the windswept cliffside of Novak’s Big Sur home, where she speaks with a measured, vulnerable voice about Hollywood’s pressures and the fragility of stardom. As she reflects on her ascent and the forces that shaped her, Philippe interlaces family history and intimate mementos that broaden the context of the film’s making.
What to expect
The film frames Novak’s perspective from the start, pairing candid recollections with recovered materials from her life. The result is a more personal, if still speculative, lens onto Vertigo and its legacy.
What Novak brings
Novak’s presence anchors the piece, and her articulate, lyrical observations give the project a persuasive emotional center. She also critiques her screen legacy, including her performance in Vertigo, with a candor that feels both brave and human.
From the attic to the screen
Philippe assembles archival finds from Novak’s loft, such as a father’s pep talk and, famously, the gray suit she wore as Madeleine. The tangible relics emphasize the film’s argument that Vertigo is as much a product of Novak’s image as of Hitchcock’s direction.
From spectacle to argument
The documentary keeps tilting between Novak’s life and Vertigo’s intricate machinery, and it rarely delivers a single, conclusive reading. Clips and Bernard Herrmann’s score echo Vertigo’s power, yet the film sometimes feels more polished than decisive.
A polished, elusive portrait
As Philippe’s Hitchcock-focused catalogue grows, this entry lands as a sleek, atmospheric tribute rather than a definitive critical reframe. Novak’s continuing vitality suggests a potential for a final, commanding screen turn if the right project comes along.
In sum, the film offers a refined, inviting journey into Novak’s world and Vertigo’s enduring myth, even as it leaves room for a sharper argument. Fans of the star and the movie will still find plenty to admire and revisit.
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