Backstage

The line separating "fan" from "fanatic" has never seemed as thin or as permeable as it does in this harrowing, and at times surprisingly humorous, case study from actress-turned-director Emmanuelle Bercot. The catalyst for all the psychodrama is "Backstage," an Ultimate Fanatic-style French television show that thrills fans by surprising them at home with a film crew and a private performance by their favorite pop idol. In this case, the reluctant star is Lauren Waks (Emmanuelle Seigner), an icy blonde whose Euro-pop stylings drive the French kids wild. Lauren's biggest fan might just be Lucie (Isild Le Besco), a suburban teenager who's been picked to appear ...