At the NYFF introduction of Stars at Noon, the most recent work by Claire Denis, it was noted that the acclaimed auteur doesn’t have a consistent style or preferred genre in her filmmaking. Recent works like High Life and Let the Sunshine In, both of which screened at NYFF and featured her frequent collaborator Juliette Binoche, are not at all indicative of her two 2022 films (the other is Both Sides of the Blade). Stars at Noon is another about face. It's a romance mired in political mystery, a puzzle that never truly feels like it needs to be solved.
Stars at Noon is based on the 1986 book by Denis Johnson that's set during the then-recent Nicaraguan War. Denis has updated the material to the present, and centered it on Trish (Margaret Qualley), an American journalist who has clearly outstayed her welcome and is struggling to find the big story that will get her back on track...
Though her quid pro quo relationships with local officials keep her afloat, she decides to try something new when she meets Daniel (Joe Alwyn), a businessman who doesn’t say much. Trish's suspicion that he's hiding something is quickly confirmed by the interest he draws from law enforcement.
Joe Alwyn and Margaret Qualley
The choice to set this film now is an interesting one, if only because that means everyone is wearing masks and COVID is a very real thing. COVID as a theme has already produced some worthwhile comedies (see: 7 Days, Stop and Go, The End of Us), but its place in dramas has been trickier (This Is Us incorporated it well in its fifth season). The constant application and removal of masks does nothing to enhance this story, though it very much could have, indicating an authoritarian-like control in an already unstable region. It's a missed opportunity here and only serves as a distraction.
What does work well in the film is the frantic energy on display from Qualley, who also carried another festival hit, Sanctuary, that, since our review was published, has been acquired for distribution by Neon’s Super. In Stars at Noon, It’s fascinating to watch her take stock of what’s going on around her. Though she's much more interesting and lively than the murky events that surround her, that’s often enough to keep the film focused. If nothing else, Stars at Noon serves as a reminder to be aware of cultural norms and national traditions, and the reality that living in another country can be a dangerous affair. B-
Stars at Noon will be released in theaters and on demand by A24 on Friday, October 14th.