Noemie Merlant’s Emmanuelle is based on a novel by Marayat Rollet-Andriane. (Photo Credits: YouTube)
Emmanuelle stars Noemie Merlant as the titular character, who goes on a journey to rediscover her lost pleasures in the city of Hong Kong.
The first trailer of Emmanuelle, a remake of one of cinema’s most iconic erotic films, has just been dropped. The new version stars Noemie Merlant as the titular character, who goes on a journey to rediscover her lost pleasures in the city of Hong Kong. First released in 1974, various studios worldwide have produced their own version and now, Audrey Diwan is set to bring a new perspective on Marayat Rollet-Andriane’s popular novel. What sets this remake apart, is that it’s made from a female viewpoint, unlike previous versions. Other than Merlant, the film also stars Naomi Watts, Will Sharpe, Jamie Campbell Bower, Chacha Huang and Anthony Wong.
The trailer opens with Merlant’s character on a business trip to Hong Kong, where she comes across several intriguing individuals, including Kei, played by Sharpe, who keeps his distance from her. Emmanuelle is heard asking, “What goes on in a person’s mind in front of a closed door when they’re unsure if they truly want what’s behind it?” To which Kei responds, “It depends who’s behind the door.” Despite interacting and having multiple sexual experiences, Emmanuelle remains obsessed with Kei. Her obsession escalates and she sneaks into Kei’s room just to taste his bathwater.
While the Emmanuelle trailer features strong chemistry between Noemie Merlant and Will Sharpe, the film’s dramatic background music by Evgueni and Sacha Galperine perfectly highlights the escalating tension and Emmanuelle’s growing desire for Kei. Interestingly, the upcoming movie is the eighth instalment in the Emmanuelle series and the 15th film in total.
In an interview with Deadline after wrapping filming in Hong Kong and Paris, director Audrey Diwan speaking about the film noted, “This movie is based on a quest for pleasure and a lost pleasure. I try to tell the movie through Emmanuelle’s sensations. Each sequence is like an exploration. It didn’t take me long to realise we were doing the opposite of pornography, which asks people not to think about something. Eroticism makes you the subject. It’s easy to see the poetry.”
Diwan made her debut with Losing It, followed by Happening, which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2021. Her upcoming movie, Emmanuelle, starring French actress Noemie Merlant, premiered on September 20 at the 72nd San Sebastian International Film Festival. The film will later be released in France, a week later on September 25.
