Esther Kahn

Not only is Arnaud Desplechin's adaptation of a largely forgotten short story by Arthur Symons a fascinating portrait of a late 19th-century actress, but it also ranks among the best films ever made about the acting profession. Born into a large family of Jewish immigrants and raised on the foul streets of London's sooty East End, Esther Kahn (Summer Phoenix) always stood apart from her intelligent brother and sisters. Dull, lazy and barely literate, Esther can't muster any real interest in the world around her: It's hard not to suspect she develops a talent for mimicry only to save herself from having to develop her own personality. Her talent also qualifies her for...