Rent Emmanuelle (2024)

Dull Remake of A famous Erotic Drama - Emmanuelle review by GI

It's something to debate as to whether the memoir on which this based was ripe for a 21st century reimagination or not. The infamous 1974 film was basically a soft porn film that explored the relaxation in the depiction of cinematic sex that arose at that time with Sylvia Kristel portraying the title character as a naive and sexually inexperienced young woman who is lured mostly by exploitative others into bizarre sexual encounters. In this new version Noémie Merlant plays her as a more mature business woman on a troubleshooting mission to a luxury Hong Kong hotel ostensibly to get evidence to allow her bosses to sack the manager (Naomie Watts). But that storyline is by the by because the central narrative is on Emmanuelle as an aloof, somewhat moody woman who is seeking some hedonistic pleasure in sex with strangers. At the hotel she becomes intrigued with an enigmatic guest (Will Sharpe) who appears to have no desire for her. The trouble here is that this is a cold film, it fails to be one thing or another. Its erotic scenes are somewhat unsexy although Melant is a beautiful woman she portrays the main character as almost unable to gain any satisfaction from her encounters. The film lacks a sense of direction and its slow, languid feel in place and speech, leaves it a tiring experience. It's shame really because a modern take on this story could have been something original and interesting. Sharpe proves he's an actor of diverse talent playing the strange Kei as the most intriguing but it's the pacing and story arc that leaves his presence as almost boring. An average erotic drama that deserved better.