It took a while, but Audrey Diwan‘s follow-up to her 2021 Venice Golden Lion-winning film “Happening” finally makes it stateside next week. But will American audiences have an appetite for a reboot of “Emmanuelle,” the long-running erotic film franchise that hasn’t had an installment since 1993?
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It’s an eyebrow-raising choice by Diwan to update the series, based on the 1967 novel of the same name, but a bold one. And the French-Lebanese director has assembled quite a cast for her “Emmanuelle.” “Portrait Of A Lady On Fire” actress Noémie Merlant stars in the film as a woman whose business trip to Hong Kong becomes a journey of unexpected erotic fulfillment. Will Sharpe and Naomi Watts also star.
Here’s an official synopsis for “Emmanuelle,” courtesy of Pathé:
Will Sharpe, Noémie Merlant, and Naomi Watts star in the sultry tale of one woman’s search for lost pleasure. While on business in Hong Kong Emmanuelle meets Kei, a man who constantly eludes her. Though she indulges in the many alluring distractions the city has to offer, she can’t shake their chance encounter. Will she submit to her basest desires to forge a deeper relationship? Audrey Diwan’s film, freely adapted from Emmanuelle Arsan’s novel, casts a female gaze on the intimate quest of the woman whose name still evokes one of cinema’s most provocative characters.
“Emmanuelle” also stars Jamie Campbell Bower, Chacha Huang, Anthony Wong, and Carole Franck.
Audrey Diwan directs “Emmanuelle” and also adapts Arsan’s novel for the screenplay with Rebecca Zlotowski.
“Emmanuelle” had its world premiere at the San Sebastián Film Festival last September. However, Diwan’s latest hasn’t scored the greatest reviews, hence it receiving only a VOD release in the US.
But that shouldn’t deter curious cinephiles from this one. Check out the trailer for “Emmanuelle” below, as well as a new clip from the film. The erotic thriller will be available on VOD next Friday.
