New Movies: Emmanuelle (2024) by Audrey Diwan: A Modern and Abstract Erotic Odyssey

Audrey Diwan's "Emmanuelle" is a bold and cerebral reimagining of Emmanuelle Arsan's seminal erotic novel. Diverging from previous, more explicit adaptations, Diwan's film offers a contemporary, English-language French drama that delves into the existential and philosophical aspects of desire, pleasure, and human connection, set against the luxurious backdrop of Hong Kong. The film stars Noémie Merlant as Emmanuelle, with a strong supporting cast including Naomi Watts and Will Sharpe. It premiered as the opening film of the 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival in September 2024 and saw a theatrical release in France on September 25, 2024, with a digital release in the U.S. on June 6, 2025.

Summary Short

Audrey Diwan's "Emmanuelle" (2024) reinvents the classic erotic novel, starring Noémie Merlant as a luxury hotel quality controller in Hong Kong. Tasked with evaluating a hotel, Emmanuelle embarks on a personal quest for lost pleasure, engaging in numerous sensual encounters while becoming infatuated with the enigmatic Kei (Will Sharpe). Co-starring Naomi Watts, the film explores desire, detachment, and self-discovery through a stylized, philosophical lens rather than explicit titillation. It premiered at San Sebastián 2024 and had a limited theatrical release before its U.S. digital release on June 6, 2025.

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20247888/

Link Review: https://thefilmstage.com/emmanuelle-review-audrey-diwan-subverts-an-erotic-classic-to-compelling-alienating-effect/

About movie: https://en.unifrance.org/movie/58134/emmanuelle

Link to watch: https://athome.fandango.com/content/browse/details/Emmanuelle/4216958?cmp=rt_leaderboard (US), https://www.justwatch.com/fr/film/emmanuelle-2024 (France), https://www.justwatch.com/de/Film/emmanuelle (Germany), https://www.justwatch.com/es/pelicula/emmanuelle-2024 (Spain), https://www.justwatch.com/au/movie/emmanuelle-2024 (Australia)

Detailed Summary

Audrey Diwan, the critically acclaimed director of "Happening" (which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival), takes on the challenging task of reinterpreting "Emmanuelle." This 2024 French production is an English-language film, marking a departure from the more explicit and often controversial adaptations of the 1970s. Diwan co-wrote the screenplay with Rebecca Zlotowski.

The film casts Noémie Merlant ("Portrait of a Lady on Fire") as Emmanuelle, a woman working as a quality controller for a luxury hotel brand. Her professional duties bring her to Hong Kong, where she is tasked with evaluating a high-end hotel run by Margot (Naomi Watts). However, Emmanuelle's journey quickly transcends her professional assignment as she embarks on a personal quest for "lost pleasure," or perhaps, a pleasure she has never truly experienced.

This search leads her into a series of sensual encounters within the opulent hotel environment and the vibrant city of Hong Kong. Her exploration of desire and intimacy becomes particularly focused on Kei (Will Sharpe), a mysterious and elusive client with whom she develops an infatuation. The film aims to depict sexual encounters and the pursuit of pleasure with a detached, almost clinical gaze, in stark contrast to the overt sensuality of previous adaptations. Diwan's vision focuses on the internal journey and philosophical aspects of desire, questioning the nature of pleasure and connection in a world that often feels superficial.

The film's reception has been mixed, with many critics finding its intellectual and detached approach compelling yet alienating. It world premiered as the opening film of the 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival on September 20, 2024, and was theatrically released in France on September 25, 2024, by Pathé. For the U.S. market, distribution rights were transferred to Decal (a division of Neon), which opted for a direct-to-digital release on June 6, 2025.

The cast also includes Jamie Campbell Bower as Sir John, Chacha Huang as Zelda, Anthony Wong as The Eye (a hotel surveillance officer), and Carole Franck as Emmanuelle's Mother. The film features cinematography by Laurent Tangy and music by Evgueni and Sacha Galperine.

Plot Summary

• Arrival in Hong Kong: Emmanuelle, a quality controller for a luxury hotel brand, arrives in Hong Kong on a business trip to evaluate a high-end hotel.

• Search for Pleasure: While performing her professional duties, Emmanuelle embarks on a personal quest for "lost pleasure," engaging in various sensual encounters within the hotel and the city.

• Encounter with Kei: She becomes intrigued and infatuated with Kei, a mysterious hotel client who constantly eludes her, making her pursuit of him a central part of her journey.

• Moral and Emotional Exploration: The film explores the nuances of desire, intimacy, and detachment as Emmanuelle navigates these relationships, often with a detached or contemplative demeanor.

• Unconventional Eroticism: Rather than explicit titillation, the film's eroticism is presented through a more abstract and philosophical lens, focusing on Emmanuelle's internal experience.

• Self-Discovery: Her encounters and pursuit of Kei contribute to her journey of self-discovery, challenging her perceptions of pleasure and connection.

Director's Vision

Audrey Diwan's vision for "Emmanuelle" is a radical reinterpretation of the source material, emphasizing a cerebral, detached, and contemporary exploration of female desire and pleasure rather than overt eroticism.

• Subverting Expectations: Diwan explicitly stated her intention was to "show less in order to engage people's imagination" and "fight that expectation" of explicit titillation associated with the original.

• Philosophical Approach: She aims to delve into the question of "what is eroticism?" and where pleasure truly comes from, making the film an intellectual and emotional journey.

• Female Gaze and Control: Diwan empowers her lead actress, Noémie Merlant, with control over intimate scenes, ensuring authenticity and focusing on the character's sensations and emotions. The film is about female pleasure from a female perspective.

• Aesthetic of Detachment: The film employs a "coldly voyeuristic" or "clinical" style, where hedonism is depicted "dispassionately," which, for Diwan, makes the "expected erotic beats newly surreal."

• Contemporary Relevance: By making Emmanuelle a career woman in a corporate setting, Diwan updates the character for modern audiences, exploring the complexities of desire in a high-pressure, globalized world.

• Dreamlike Tone: Reviewers have noted a "dreamlike tone" that pushes the film into the "realm of the uncanny," suggesting an intentional move away from realism.

Themes

"Emmanuelle" explores a range of complex themes:

• The Nature of Pleasure and Desire: What constitutes true pleasure, and how does one find it? The film delves into the elusive quality of satisfaction.

• Detachment vs. Connection: Emmanuelle navigates numerous intimate encounters, but often remains emotionally detached, raising questions about genuine connection.

• Female Agency and Autonomy: The film centers on a woman's active pursuit of her desires, challenging traditional notions of female sexuality.

• Existentialism and the Search for Meaning: Emmanuelle's quest for pleasure can be seen as a search for deeper meaning or fulfillment in an opulent but potentially empty world.

• The Seduction of Power and Control: Her professional role as a quality controller and her pursuit of the elusive Kei touch upon themes of power dynamics in relationships and personal control.

• Luxury and Emptiness: The lavish hotel setting can be seen as a metaphor for a world that offers superficial gratification but lacks genuine depth.

Key Success Factors

• Audrey Diwan's Acclaim: Her previous success with "Happening" brought significant attention and credibility to this project.

• Iconic Source Material: The "Emmanuelle" brand carries a strong, albeit complex, legacy that generates curiosity.

• Strong Cast: Noémie Merlant, Naomi Watts, and Will Sharpe are respected actors who bring gravitas to the film.

• Festival Premiere: Opening the San Sebastián International Film Festival provided a prestigious platform and early buzz.

• Bold Reinterpretation: Diwan's distinct, intellectual approach to the material offers a unique cinematic experience that stands apart from previous adaptations.

• International Appeal: Shot in English and French, with a Hong Kong setting, it has a global sensibility.

Awards and Nominations (Confirmed)

• 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival (September 2024):

  • Opening Film (Official Selection, In Competition)

  • Eligible for the Golden Shell for Best Film (result not yet widely publicized, but generally not awarded to opening films).

• Tokyo International Film Festival (November 2024):

  • Asian Premiere

Critics Reception

Critical reception for "Emmanuelle" has been mixed to generally unfavorable, as reflected in its Metascore of 35 based on 10 critic reviews. Reviewers generally acknowledge Diwan's artistic intentions but often find the execution to be cold, dull, or overly abstract.

• Praise: Some critics found the film "oddly enchanting" or "beguling" due to its detached, analytical approach to sex and pleasure. Merlant's performance is often noted for conveying a sense of inner turmoil. The film's visual style and score have also received some praise.

• Critique: The most common criticism is the film's lack of "titillation" or "sensuality" despite its erotic subject matter. Many found it "painfully dull," "cold and sterile," or "an empty film about emptiness." The dialogue has been described as "cumbersome" and the narrative disjointed. Some critics felt the film's intellectual ambitions alienated viewers and failed to justify the reboot.

• Overall: While admired by a few for its subversive and intellectual take, the majority of critics seem to have been disappointed by its lack of emotional engagement and perceived tediousness.

Reviews (Selected Excerpts)

• "Audrey Diwan Subverts an Erotic Classic to Compelling, Alienating Effect." - The Film Stage

• "Emmanuelle is now showing in select cinemas nationwide. Rating: 2 out of 5... Its problem is that it's painfully dull, an attribute which is arguably worse." - Cinerama Film

• "The problem is that the new Emmanuelle is as completely unsexy, cold and sterile as the environment the titular protagonist inhabits." - Eye for Film

• "The result is an empty film about emptiness, and therefore doubly depressing." - The Telegraph

• "If it's lucky, Emmanuelle might find an afterlife as a kind of Showgirls for its generation, a great-bad movie that's undeniably craptacular yet strangely endearing, a shameful pleasure in every sense." - The Hollywood Reporter (Leslie Felperin)

Box Office

"Emmanuelle" had a limited theatrical release internationally before its digital debut.

• International Theatrical (as of February 2025): The film grossed approximately $166,238 internationally across various limited releases in countries like Russia (CIS), Spain, Portugal, France, Croatia, UK, etc. France's theatrical run itself generated around $435,970.

• U.S. Digital Release: Its primary commercial performance in the U.S. will be driven by digital rentals and purchases through VOD platforms, as it forewent a wide theatrical release.

Production Companies

• Chantelouve (France)

• Rectangle Productions (France)

• Goodfellas (France)

• Pathé Films (France)

• Beta Fiction Spain (Spain)

Sales Companies

• Goodfellas (International Sales)

Distribution Companies

• Pathé (Theatrical in France)

• DECAL (U.S. Digital/VOD, a division of Neon)

• Various other international distributors for specific territories (e.g., Beta Fiction for Spain, Gaga Corporation for Japan).

Release date on streaming

"Emmanuelle" was released on VOD and digital platforms in the U.S. on Friday, June 6, 2025.

Theatrical Release

• World Premiere: September 20, 2024, at the 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival (Opening Film).

• French Theatrical Release: September 25, 2024.

• International Theatrical Releases: Limited releases in various countries (e.g., Spain, Portugal, Russia, UK, Japan, Australia) throughout late 2024 and early 2025.

• U.S. Theatrical Release: The film largely bypassed a theatrical release in the U.S., opting for a direct-to-digital launch.

Why to recommend this movie

• Audrey Diwan's Bold Vision: For viewers interested in a director who challenges expectations and reinterprets classic material in a unique, intellectual way.

• Art-House Cinema: If you appreciate films that prioritize philosophical exploration and visual style over conventional narrative or explicit content.

• Strong Female Performances: Noémie Merlant and Naomi Watts deliver compelling performances.

• Unique Take on Eroticism: It's a film about desire and pleasure that aims to be more thoughtful and less titillating, inviting a different kind of engagement.

Why to Watch Movie

• If you are a fan of Audrey Diwan's "Happening": You'll find a similar intelligent and unflinching directorial style.

• To experience a non-traditional erotic drama: It subverts genre tropes.

• For a character-driven study of desire and self-discovery: The film focuses heavily on Emmanuelle's internal journey.

• If you appreciate films that spark discussion: Its controversial approach to the source material is sure to generate debate.

What Movie Trend film is following

"Emmanuelle" (2024) follows the trend of "Arthouse Reboots/Reinterpretations of Controversial Classics," especially those with a strong authorial voice and a focus on female experience.

• Definition: This trend involves contemporary filmmakers taking iconic, often divisive, or sexually explicit films/novels from the past and reimagining them through a modern, often more intellectual, feminist, or abstract lens. The goal is typically not to simply remake but to comment on, deconstruct, or explore the original themes with a new perspective, often moving away from exploitation towards artistic examination.

• How "Emmanuelle" Fits: Audrey Diwan explicitly seeks to move beyond the "softcore" reputation of the original film, using the familiar name to explore contemporary ideas about female pleasure, power, and existential searching with a distinctly art-house aesthetic. Her approach prioritizes the "how" and "why" of desire over simple depiction.

What Big Social Trend is following

The film connects to the social trend of "Redefining Female Pleasure and Sexual Agency in Post-Me Too Era."

• Definition: Following heightened discussions around consent, female empowerment, and the male gaze in media, there's a growing cultural desire for nuanced portrayals of female sexuality. This trend seeks to explore female pleasure from a woman's perspective, emphasizing agency, internal experience, and a move away from objectification. It often involves questioning traditional cinematic depictions of sex.

• How "Emmanuelle" Connects:

  • Female Gaze: Diwan's stated intention to explore "female pleasure" and give her lead actress control over intimate scenes aligns directly with efforts to counter the traditional male gaze.

  • Focus on Internal Experience: The film's emphasis on Emmanuelle's internal quest for pleasure, her detachment, and her struggle to truly feel aligns with the idea that pleasure is complex and not just a physical act.

  • Challenging Titillation: By intentionally moving away from explicit titillation, Diwan pushes against the historical objectification often associated with "erotic" cinema, inviting a more intellectual and less exploitative engagement with the subject of sex. This reflects a broader cultural conversation about how sex is depicted responsibly and meaningfully on screen.

Final Conclusions

Audrey Diwan's "Emmanuelle" (2024) is a brave and intellectually stimulating reinterpretation of an iconic, controversial text. Premiering at San Sebastián and releasing theatrically in France in late 2024 before its U.S. digital debut on June 6, 2025, the film is less about explicit eroticism and more about an abstract, philosophical journey into female desire and the elusive nature of pleasure. Starring a compelling Noémie Merlant, the film has divided critics, with many admiring its artistic ambition and distinct vision while others found its detachment and abstract approach to be alienating. Regardless of reception, "Emmanuelle" stands as a significant work by a leading female director, challenging conventions and inviting audiences to engage with its complex themes on a deeper, more contemplative level, reflecting contemporary discussions around female agency and the representation of sexuality in cinema.