Emmanuelle (2024 film)

{{Infobox film

| image = Emmanuelle (2024, poster).jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Audrey Diwan

| producer = Audrey Diwan

| screenplay = {{Plainlist|

Audrey Diwan
Rebecca Zlotowski

}}

| based_on = {{based on|Emmanuelle|Emmanuelle Arsan}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = {{ubl|Evgueni Galperine|Sacha Galperine}}

| cinematography = Laurent Tangy

| editing = Pauline Gaillard

| production_companies = {{Plainlist|

Rectangle Productions
Chantelouve
Goodfellas

}}

| distributor = Pathé

| released = {{Film date|2024|9|20|San Sebastián|df=yes|2024|09|25|France}}

| runtime = 105 minutes{{Cite web |date=7 January 2025|title=Emmanuelle (18) |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/emmanuelle-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdi1odi3|access-date=9 January 2025 |website=British Board of Film Classification}}

| country = France

| language = English

| budget = €18 million{{Cite web |last=Wachthausen |first=Jean-Luc |date=27 September 2024 |title=La nouvelle « Emmanuelle » : une autre façon d'élargir le champ de l'érotisme |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/culture/la-nouvelle-emmanuelle-d-audrey-diwan-une-autre-facon-d-elargir-le-champ-de-l-erotisme-27-09-2024-2571359_3.php |website=Le Point |language=fr}}

| gross =

}}

Emmanuelle is a 2024 English-language French erotic drama film directed, co-written and produced by Audrey Diwan. Based on the 1967 novel by Emmanuelle Arsan, it is the eighth theatrical film in the series of the same name, and the fifteenth film overall, and serves as a reboot. It stars Noémie Merlant as the title character, alongside Naomi Watts and Will Sharpe.

The film had its world premiere on 20 September 2024 at the 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival, and was released in France by Pathé on 25 September 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/global/audrey-diwan-emmanuelle-san-sebastian-premiere-1235994019/|website=Variety|date=7 May 2024|title=Audrey Diwan's 'Emmanuelle' to World Premiere as San Sebastian Opening Film|first=Jamie|last=Lang}}

Plot

Emmanuelle, a quality controller for a luxury hotel brand, arrives in Hong Kong to evaluate a hotel run by Margot, having been tasked with finding a good reason to sack her. Searching for a lost pleasure, she has numerous sensual experiences inside the hotel, and crosses path with Kei, a mysterious client with whom she becomes infatuated.

Cast

Noémie Merlant as Emmanuelle
Naomi Watts as Margot{{cite web|url=https://www.pathefilms.com/en/movies/emmanuelle|title=Emmanuelle|website=Pathé|access-date=September 21, 2024}}
Will Sharpe as Kei
Jamie Campbell Bower as Sir John
Chacha Huang as Zelda
Anthony Wong as The Eye
Carole Franck as Emmanuelle's Mother

Production

In May 2022, it was announced Léa Seydoux had joined the cast of the film, with Audrey Diwan directing and producing from a screenplay she wrote with Rebecca Zlotowski, based upon the novel Emmanuelle by Emmanuelle Arsan.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lea-seydoux-new-emmanuelle-adaptation-happening-director-audrey-diwan-1235147305/|title=Lea Seydoux to Lead New 'Emmanuelle' Adaptation by 'Happening' Director Audrey Diwan|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Alex|last=Ritman|date=May 16, 2022|access-date=December 19, 2023|archive-date=May 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517064552/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lea-seydoux-new-emmanuelle-adaptation-happening-director-audrey-diwan-1235147305/|url-status=live}} In February 2023, Noémie Merlant joined the cast of the film, replacing Seydoux.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/noemie-merlant-star-audrey-diwan-directed-emmanuelle-hot-efm-package-shoots-september-hong-kong-strong-1235257751/|title=Noémie Merlant To Star In Audrey Diwan-Directed 'Emmanuelle'; Hot EFM Package Shoots September In Hong Kong|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D’Alessandro|date=February 13, 2023|access-date=December 19, 2023|archive-date=December 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219122624/https://deadline.com/2023/02/noemie-merlant-star-audrey-diwan-directed-emmanuelle-hot-efm-package-shoots-september-hong-kong-strong-1235257751/|url-status=live}} In December 2023, Naomi Watts, Will Sharpe, Jamie Campbell Bower, Chacha Huang and Anthony Wong joined the cast of the film.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/12/emmanuelle-erotic-movie-naomi-watts-will-sharpe-noemie-merlant-audrey-diwan-1235671469/|title='Emmanuelle': First Image Revealed Of Star Noémie Merlant In Erotic Drama; Naomi Watts, Will Sharpe & Jamie Campbell Bower Among Cast To Join As Pathé Secures French Rights|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|date=December 19, 2023|access-date=December 19, 2023|archive-date=December 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219083835/https://deadline.com/2023/12/emmanuelle-erotic-movie-naomi-watts-will-sharpe-noemie-merlant-audrey-diwan-1235671469/|url-status=live}}

Principal photography began in Paris in October 2023.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/10/audrey-diwan-announces-emmanuelle-shoot-in-paris-1235576748/|title=Audrey Diwan Announces Start Of 'Emmanuelle' Shoot In Paris|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Melanie|last=Goodfellow|date=October 18, 2023|access-date=October 18, 2023|archive-date=October 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018152612/https://deadline.com/2023/10/audrey-diwan-announces-emmanuelle-shoot-in-paris-1235576748/|url-status=live}} Shooting also took place in Hong Kong,{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/emmanuelle-trailer-noemie-merlant-will-sharpe-erotic-quest-audrey-diwan-1236058923/|website=Variety|first=Patrick|last=Frater|date=2 July 2024|title='Emmanuelle' Trailer: Noémie Merlant and Will Sharpe Embark on an Erotic Quest in Audrey Diwan's Adaptation of Famous French Novel}} including at Chungking Mansions, the main setting for Wong Kar-wai's Chungking Express (1994), which Diwan chose for filming due to her deep appreciation for the film.{{Cite web |url=https://www.elle.com/tw/entertainment/drama/a63128500/2024emmanuelle1209/ |title=《艾曼紐2024》：情慾如水，流動於現實與幻想的邊界 |trans-title=Emmanuelle 2024: Desire Flows Like Water, Blurring the Lines Between Reality and Fantasy. |date=December 9, 2024 |website=Elle |last=Chen |first=Kahlen |access-date=December 24, 2024 |language=zh}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20241112000662-260112?chdtv |title=《艾曼紐》導演致敬王家衛取景重慶大廈 |trans-title=Emmanuelle{{`s}} Director Pays Tribute to Wong Kar-wai, Filming at Chungking Mansions |date=November 12, 2024 |website=China Times |author=杜欣穎 |access-date=December 24, 2024 |language=zh}}

Release

In November 2023, Neon was announced to be circling US distribution rights.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/neon-audrey-diwan-erotic-emmanuelle-noemie-merlant-1235776053/|title=Neon Circling Audrey Diwan's Erotic Drama 'Emmanuelle' Starring Noemie Merlant (EXCLUSIVE)|website=Variety|first=Elsa|last=Keslassy|date=November 1, 2023|access-date=December 19, 2023|archive-date=November 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105235732/https://variety.com/2023/film/global/neon-audrey-diwan-erotic-emmanuelle-noemie-merlant-1235776053/|url-status=live}}

The film had its world premiere at the 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival on 20 September 2024.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/05/audrey-diwan-emmanuelle-opening-san-sebastian-film-festival-1235906960/|title=Audrey Diwan's 'Emmanuelle' To Open San Sebastian Film Festival|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Melanie|last=Goodfellow|date=7 May 2024|access-date=7 May 2024}} It was released theatrically in France by Pathé on 25 September 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/emmanuelle-first-trailer-for-audrey-diwans-film-ahead-of-san-sebastian-premiere/5195090.article|website=ScreenDaily|access-date=2 July 2024|first=Ben|last=Dalton|date=2 July 2024|title='Emmanuelle': first trailer for Audrey Diwan's film starring Noemie Merlant ahead of San Sebastian premiere}}

Reception

{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|17|4.8|23|Bitterly disappointing given the talent involved, this modern take on Emmanuelle is an erotic odyssey with no sizzle.|ref=yes|access-date=30 December 2024}}