The film "Emmanuelle" is currently screening in Russia — a new take on the iconic erotic story of a French woman exploring new facets of her femininity in Asia. "Lenta.ru" discusses the rebranding of "Emmanuelle," which marks the conclusion of a half-century period of sexual revolution in cinema.
On June 26, 1974, "Emmanuelle" by Just Jaeckin was released in French cinemas. This fact cannot be overlooked when discussing "Emmanuelle" by Audrey Diwan. Fifty years ago, Jaeckin's film not only made Sylvia Kristel a star but also set new standards for European erotica. While there was little nudity, what was shown left a lasting impression on viewers. Aging film critics still exchange knowing glances when mentioning the wicker chair in which Kristel posed for one of the posters.
- Release Date: February 28
- Country: France
- Duration: 1 hour 37 minutes
- Director: Audrey Diwan
- Starring: Noémie Merlant, Will Sharpe, Jamie Campbell Bower, Naomi Watts
In the years since, the rise of legalized pornography has transformed actors and actresses in the genre into stars, and even led to a brief transformation of porn titan Rocco Siffredi into an arthouse star. The name "Emmanuelle" has continually appeared in cinema — there have been six legal sequels (five of which featured Kristel). However, this discussion is less about sequels and more about brand usage, the signs of which are certainly more significant than the story in this case. In this context, Audrey Diwan's film is not a remake or even a new adaptation of the original book: little remains of the fantasies of Maraya Bibid and Louis-Jacques Rollet-Andriane beyond the heroine's name. Diwan's "Emmanuelle" is indeed a rebranding. Especially since the languorous letter "ю" in the Russian transcription has been subtly replaced with the clear and concrete "у."
567Frame: the film "Emmanuelle"
The main changes have occurred not in the film itself but in the world surrounding it. The hippie generation of the seventies eagerly engaged in the exploration of sensuality. Today's young people realize that the subject is far less rich in discoveries, and enthusiasm has given way to boredom. This expression is etched on the face of the modern Emmanuelle (Noémie Merlant), who, as an inspector, flies to Hong Kong to evaluate a luxury hotel. During the flight, out of boredom, she lures a random fellow passenger into the restroom and casually hikes up her dress. However, upon arrival at her destination, things do not become more interesting.
The hotel staff peeks in, escorts are swirling around the pool, guests are having fun while pretending that threesomes are still an original experiment.
Wandering through the corridors and reporting her evaluations of the hotel service over the phone, Emmanuelle is tasked with finding a fault in the work of manager Margot (Naomi Watts). However, the only thing that truly occupies her mind is the mysterious Kei Shinohara (Will Sharpe), who casually smokes in the lobby, does not stay in a luxury room, and shows no interest in either sex or the dams he has come to build. Upon meeting a kindred spirit in this weary man, Emmanuelle finds excitement in establishing some emotional connection with him.
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In 2022, when the first news about the upcoming film emerged, Léa Seydoux was mentioned as the lead actress. Ultimately, the role was given to Noémie Merlant, which may benefit the film: after all, fewer people have seen "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" (Merlant's most significant work) than the latest James Bond films. Eva Green could arguably have been the ideal successor to Sylvia Kristel in terms of psychophysical attributes, but in that case, the character would need to be made about ten years older. This would have been a good solution: a later revelation of sexuality is a plot worthy of modern gerontophilic trends. Who knows, perhaps such an "Emmanuelle" is still ahead.
As for Diwan's film, it has already been criticized by reviewers on both sides of the ocean for its anemic and nonsensical nature.
Some even regretted the credits given to the director for her debut film "Happening," which won at the Venice Film Festival. However, aside from this film about the dangers of abortion in 1960s France, Audrey has solid experience in screenwriting (and previously in writing books), so "Emmanuelle" likely represents precisely what she intended to convey at the level of text. And if the film is not viewed as a cinematic aphrodisiac, it certainly elicits some curiosity.
The 2024 "Emmanuelle" is a cold and mysterious film, which resembles more of an advertisement for watches and a corporate thriller than an erotic melodrama. Moreover, this thriller is practically devoid of intrigue. There is none in the heroine's quest for an orgasm (even more chaste considering the ten minutes cut from the Russian version) or in the attempts to vilify the character primarily dressed in white, played by Naomi Watts.
123Frame: the film "Emmanuelle"
Diwan explores shades of awkwardness: here, Emmanuelle glides a piece of ice over her nipples, and there, she recounts sex on a plane for an extended time ("he had a thick and demanding member"), emphasizing the shifts in tempo. Yet even the awkwardness does not transform into burning shame; it remains as cold as the beauty of the titular brunette, the lighting in the hotel, and everything else in this film.
Materials related to the topic:In essence, Diwan has somewhat overdone it with the detachment. This film is made not for festivals but rather for future anthropologists — specifically for those who will live fifty years from now. After all, the discourse surrounding sex in the roaring twenties is arguably more honest and accurate here than in audience hits like "Anora."
456Frame: the film "Emmanuelle"
However, for people who, like us, already live in these circumstances (minus the luxurious and sterile hotel interiors), watching all of this in a movie theater is far from necessary. Nevertheless, these are still not the worst 97 (or 107) minutes that global cinema has offered us this year.
The film "Emmanuelle" (Emmanuelle) will be released in Russian cinemas on November 28.