Applause

Steen plays Thea, a successful stage actress, recovering alcoholic, and divorced mother trying to regain custody of her children. In this film reminiscent of Agnès Varda’s Cleo from 5 to 7 and John Cassavetes’ Opening Night, Thea is woman continually playing to her audience, struggling to contain the turmoil underneath the heavy stage makeup. Beautiful camera work incorporating penetrating close-ups along with Steen’s mesmerizing, nuanced performance combine to make director Martin Zanvleit’s film an exquisite and unique drama.

Famous and wasted, Thea (Dogme veteran Parika Steen) rages as Martha in a production of “Who’s Afraid of Virgina Woolf?” then in real life smokes and stumbles through recovery, trying to stay clean and regain custody of her sons. Mostly a mood piece, the film careens into close-ups of Thea, smearing her makeup and pawing at what she dubs her “dog skin.” Steen goes for the guts and really impresses, but by the end of the film our understanding of Thea — as an actress, a woman, a mother — isn’t much deeper than the crags of her skin. (Denmark, 85 minutes) 2 1/2 out of 4 stars