Elle

2016 2h 11m FR

👍

6.6

SOLID

★6.6TMDB · 2,044

DramaThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

When Michèle, the CEO of a gaming software company, is attacked in her home by an unknown assailant, she refuses to let it alter her precisely ordered life. She manages crises involving family, all the while becoming engaged in a game of cat and mouse with her stalker.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Isabelle Huppert
Michèle
Laurent Lafitte
Patrick
Anne Consigny
Anna
Charles Berling
Richard
Virginie Efira
Rebecca
Judith Magre
Irène
Christian Berkel
Robert
Jonas Bloquet
Vincent

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Paul Verhoeven
Writers: David Birke
Languages: French
Countries: Belgium, France, Germany

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

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 24% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 10 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: Belgium, France, Germany.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Paul Verhoeven, shot by Stéphane Fontaine. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Anne Dudley. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Job ter Burg 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

Isabelle Huppert and Laurent Lafitte and Anne Consigny carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt3716530 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Paul Verhoeven directs. Stéphane Fontaine behind the camera. Anne Dudley scores. Job ter Burg cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Belgium, France, Germany. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 24% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released 10 years ago.
3International production across 3 countries: Belgium, France, Germany.
4Directed by Paul Verhoeven, shot by Stéphane Fontaine. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Anne Dudley. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Job ter Burg shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Isabelle Huppert and Laurent Lafitte and Anne Consigny carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt3716530 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 14 themes, including "rape", "france", "video game", "assault".

The technical file

Cinematography: Stéphane Fontaine
Original score: Anne Dudley
Editing: Job ter Burg
Production design: Laurent Ott
Costume design: Nathalie Raoul
Makeup / hair: Thi-Loan Nguyen
VFX supervisor: Nicolas Rey
Sound: Alessandro Checcacci
Stunt coordinator: Emmanuel Lanzi
Runtime: 131 min · 2h 11m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $9,800,000
Box office: $2,341,534
Return: 24% of budget
Original language: FR
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Elle (2016)

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Paul Verhoeven

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Reno2016-12-24
★ 7/10
Sometimes the crime decides its own fate. I had no thought before the watch, but while watching it, I felt it was overrated. That's for a moment, once I finished watching it, realised it's a better film. I mean I changed my stance, after over and over thinking about the film. So its the patience you need, wait till the film to end to decide how much you liked it. It was too long, but every space was filled up with the best parts. It took time to understand the characters, and with multiple angle events in one woman's life. Isabelle Huppert was amazing. Despite so many characters in the film, she ruled it. One of her best films I have seen. The film focused on the boss of a video game designing firm. It opens with as she's been sexually assaulted in her home by an intruder. Followed by one of her employees morphed her face to an animated character as a sexual explicit material for the game they are working in. So she begins her investigation to find both the culprit who might be the same person. This is where the suspense comes into play to develop interest in us. Besides, facing family troubles takes some extra development. Subsequently, all the mysteries will be solved and to know how it ends, you should watch it. "Michele to her cat: You did not have to claw his eyes out, but scratch him at least." It is official French submission to the 89th American Academy Awards. But as per the latest news bulletin, this film is out of the Oscars race, despite made into the Golden Globes. From the director of the original 'Total Recall' and his first French film. Based on the book named 'Oh...'. But I felt it was developed from a small part of 'The Little Death'. Basically, there's an understanding being it is the story of the adults, despite the sexual violences and that's how this story was built. So you must compromise on a few things that is shown in it if you really want to enjoy it. I did not like it all the sudden, though looking back all the film events and joining them together made me see the film was decent. Especially that final line said by a woman who was evacuating her house makes whole thing sense. Maybe that's the real twist in the tale. Initially I did not think to write a review, but surely it deserved one from me, so I wrote this short and quick. This is the film for the grown ups, but not for all the grown ups. So I hope it will meet your expectation if you decide to try, but according to me definitely it is worth. 7/10
Svumpukkel852017-05-13
Ass-wiping-piece-of-crap-movie glamorizing rape, violence, mutilation, stalking... It is not doing any good for anybody! NO woman (with brains) would ever find this movie sexy! The first and the last 10 minutes was the only thing realistic in this movie.... YUCK! The director and the whole movie team should be ashamed to encourage violence against women! There are some sick twisted fucks out there, who is totally going to misunderstand this movie...

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