The Kidnapping of Michel Houellebecq

"Only unmasked kidnappers spell trouble"

2014 1h 32m FR

👍

6.5

SOLID

★6.5TMDB · 51

ComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In September 2011 writer Michel Houellebecq briefly disappeared off the face of the earth. Wild rumours began circulating on the Internet that he’d been abducted by Al-Qaeda or aliens from outer space. Some Twitter users even expressed relief that the controversial author was suddenly no longer around. This film now reveals what really happened: Three tough guys variously with impressive hairstyles and bodybuilder physiques carried off the star intellectual, taking him out of the daily stress of dodging autograph hunters and having his flat renovated and bringing him to a beautiful rural underdog idyll, full of dog grooming, bodybuilding demonstrations, junk cars and Polish sausages. But who was to pay the ransom?

“Only unmasked kidnappers spell trouble”

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Cast

Michel Houellebecq
Michel Houellebecq
Mathieu Nicourt
Mathieu
Maxime Lefrançois
Max
Françoise Lebrun
Françoise
Luc Schwarz
Luc
Veran Mauberret
Ginette Suchotzky
Ginette
André Suchotzky
Dede

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Guillaume Nicloux
Writers: Guillaume Nicloux
Languages: German, French, Polish
Countries: France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 12 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: German, French, Polish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Part of the "L'Enlèvement de Michel Houellebecq" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Guillaume Nicloux, shot by Didier Abot. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Guy Lecorne shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Michel Houellebecq and Mathieu Nicourt and Maxime Lefrançois carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Only unmasked kidnappers spell trouble".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Guillaume Nicloux directs. Didier Abot behind the camera. Guy Lecorne cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in France. Dialogue in German, French, Polish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 12 years ago.
2Dialogue crosses 3 languages: German, French, Polish.
3Part of the "L'Enlèvement de Michel Houellebecq" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Guillaume Nicloux, shot by Didier Abot. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Editor Guy Lecorne shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Michel Houellebecq and Mathieu Nicourt and Maxime Lefrançois carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Only unmasked kidnappers spell trouble".
9IMDB entry: tt3504542 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 51 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.