Isabelle Huppert is the star in ‘The Richest Woman in the World’ - review

Isabelle Huppert stars in 'The Richest Woman in the World,' directed by Thierry Klifa, opening in Israeli theaters on Thursday. Huppert plays a cosmetics heiress manipulated by a younger photographer who bilks her of close to $1 billion, based on the Liliane Bettencourt scandal.

Isabelle Huppert stars in 'The Richest Woman in the World,' directed by Thierry Klifa, which opens in Israeli theaters on Thursday. Huppert plays Marianne, a cosmetics heiress who is manipulated by a younger photographer, Pierre-Alain (Laurent Lafitte), who bilks her of close to $1 billion. The plot is based on the real scandal involving Liliane Bettencourt, the L'Oreal heiress, in the late 1980s. The film concentrates on Marianne, her family, and Pierre-Alain, painting a convincing portrait of a vain, isolated woman. The review notes that the characters are unlikable but that Huppert's performance creates suspense. A subplot about WWII collaboration is raised but not developed. The review concludes that Huppert is the most interesting element of the film.