Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t stop thinking aboutTárwhile watchingSeven Veils. Even though these two movies are actually quite different, the concepts of power dynamics and long-held secrets within grand artistic institutions almost made them of a piece. Unfortunately, that comparison doesn’t really serveSeven Veilsvery well, putting it at a distinct disadvantage.
But let’s put theTárof it all aside.Directed and written by Atom Egoyan,Seven Veilsis set in the opera world, as inexperienced director Jeanine (Amanda Seyfried) steps up to remount the production ofSalomethat her late mentor Charles previously staged. In theory, Jeanine’s job should be fairly straightforward: the artistic director of the opera house — and Charles' wife — just wants Jeanine to recapture Charles' original production with minimal alterations. However, Jeanine causes a stir when she mentions she’ll be making small but meaningful changes.
Seven Veils Seems To Have Something Very Timely To Say
But Expected Storylines Never Really Coalesce
Seven Veilsplays like and is marketedas a thriller. As we gradually learn, Jeanine’s relationship with Charles went well beyond that of a mentor and mentee, and the story ofSalome —as well as Charles' specific production — is deeply personal for her. (If you’re not at all familiar withSalome, don’t worry, Egoyan smartly weaves the plot into the dialogue and action so we can follow along.) Jeanine’s work in remounting the production is intercut with flashbacks to her childhood, to a time when her dad would evokeSalomewhile recording concerning videos of her.
Egoyan plays up the notion that Jeanine is being actively haunted by her past, leaning heavily into the injected flashbacks and sudden voiceovers from her father that give the impression she’s hearing voices. Mychael Danna’s score further enhances the eerie atmosphere, as does a secondary plotline involving prop master Clea (Rebecca Liddiard) and the various members of theSalomecast. Jeanine’s illicit relationship with Charles isn’t the only imbalanced dynamic at play withinSeven Veils; in fact, I found myself a bit surprised by how many narrative threads are twisting around Jeanine’s.
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Cold Wallet succeeds at getting us to feel the heat of the situation, all while emphasizing the cold, hard reality that awaits our protagonists.
This, ultimately, is where I found myself becoming disenchanted withSeven Veils. The film seems to set the stage for several intersecting tales about the intensity of art and messy power dynamics only to never really follow through with them. Clea’s story, which largely revolves around making a prop head and, later, working to get her girlfriend a major opportunity onstage, is the only one with the clearest purpose.
Jeanine is using this production ofSalometo process her past, and as she watches all-too-familiar scenes come to life right before her eyes, Seyfried perfectly captures the whirlwind of emotions coursing through her.
In a way, there are thematic similarities between Jeanine and Clea’s arcs, ones that became clear as I sat a bit longer with the material. At the same time, though, I’m not entirely sure Egoyan fully manages to get the message across. It’s an interesting attempt, and Egoyan can be commended for clearly having a timely driving force behind this story. He’s also very skilled at creating a dreamily nightmarish atmosphere. Ultimately, though, the final statement is muddled.
Amanda Seyfried Makes Seven Veils Worth Seeing
She Gives One Of Her Best Performances
Despite the various detours,Seven Veilsis primarily about Jeanine and her simmering trauma.Seyfried has long been an actorI admire, and this role might be one of her most mesmerizing and intense performances. Outwardly, Jeanine holds so much close to her chest, but voiceover from the journal she’s keeping lets us in. Though this lends more evidence to the notion that Egoyan is prioritizing being enigmatic and titillating over something more substantial, it does give Seyfried the chance to pull us deeper into Jeanine’s mind.
Jeanine is using this production ofSalometo process her past, and as she watches all-too-familiar scenes come to life right before her eyes, Seyfried perfectly captures the whirlwind of emotions coursing through her. Caught in both the excitement of artistic expression and the desperation of wanting to be heard, she portrays Jeanine on the fine line between brilliance and madness. It’s stunning to watch.
Considering the difficult things Jeanine is forced to reckon with, I expectedSeven Veilsto end with a bit more of a catharsis. Though the trailer would have you believe it’s a thriller, it simply proves itself to be a character study, albeit one that chooses to explore its protagonist’s trauma through another story. Perhaps it was Egoyan’s intention to leave us on a quieter note, and I will say the final shot made a strong statement of its own. Nevertheless,Seven Veilsstill falls prey to its own expansive focus, making it a compelling yet unsatisfying drama.
Seven Veils
Seven Veils is a drama film by writer-director Atom Egoyan and premiered in September of 2023 at the Toronto International Film Festival before a 2025 theatrical release. Amanda Seyfried stars as Jeanine, a young theater director who inherits the much-revered production of Salome after her mentor dies. Forced to reconcile with her past to manage her current tumultuous present, Jeanine reorganizes her life as the lives of others in the production experience their own troubles - on and off the stage.
