Elles

Some of the sequences in Malgorzata Szumowskas film are quite difficult to view - especially the scene where one of the student prostitutes (Anaïs Demoustier) willingly allows herself to be urinated on by one of her clients, or has a champagne bottle thrust into her vagina. These moments are designed to emphasize the pitfalls of the whores existence - even if both Charlotte and Alicja (Joanna Kulig) manage to make sufficient funds to support themselves in some style during their student lives. Nonetheless Szumowksa reminds us that we should not judge their decision too harshly. By contrasting their lives with that of well-to-do journalist Anna (Juliette Binoche), who is writing an article for ELLE magazine about their lives, the director suggests that in many ways the prostitutes live a superior existence. They enjoy an independence that is denied to someone like Anna, who has to spend most of her leisure time caring for a feckless husband (Louis-Do de Lencquesaing) and her three children. ELLES is full of scenes where Anna is shown working alone in the kitchen, or talking on the phone to a disembodied voice. As the film closes, she is shown silently listening at a dinner party while Patrick and his friends prattle on about various subjects; in the end she grows so frustrated that she simply walks out of the house for a breath of welcome fresh air. In contrast both Charlotte and Alicja enjoy a considerable degree of independence; they exert power over their (mostly middle-aged) clients, to the extent that they can determine in advance what they will do and what they will not do. The money they earn gives them the spending power to please themselves. As the film progresses, so we see Anna becoming more and more enamored of the girls lives. She is shown talking in the park to Charlotte; the two of them become quite close to one another, as denoted through a series of two-shots. While alone with Alicja in Alicijas apartment, Anna partakes of vodka (although claiming that she does not drink), and ends up on a passionate embrace with the younger woman. While alone in her own apartment, Anna pleasures herself in an extended scene, where Szumowskas camera focuses on her face as she gradually comes to orgasm. Sex gives her the kind of power that she can never enjoy either at work or during her family life. In the end, however, that power proves illusory. The film ends with an extended shot of Anna sitting down to breakfast with her husband and two of her children - an image of familial normality that suggests mental as well as physical imprisonment. Although empathizing with the two girls, she can never enjoy their independence. ELLES is a thought-provoking piece, shot in deliberately low-key style. Director Szumowska achieves some striking thematic effects, most notably through the use of music that often contrasts with the emotions of the characters shown on screen. At one moment Anna is shown walking morosely about her living-room; on the soundtrack we hear the second movement of Beethovens Seventh Symphony - a homage to death. The grandeur of the music is set against the mundaneness of Annas life; she would love to improve it, if only she could.

Zero imagination. Sure I had read other opinions and lots of words without real meaning praise this mainstream propaganda. Yeah, for a start producer could not figure out how to show sex, I guess Tinto Brass or DAmato movies are not available in France. Camera and lights works were especially primitive and I was not happy with Jess Franco, boy, I was mistaken. Of course, nobody in this flick works, money no problem, sure, after all unemployment in France only steady 10%. Music--who needs music, propaganda is good without music. Resume--as Italian dictator said--the purpose of movement is to move. Avoid.

I love the actress. I played on my lunch hour at work. Too racy for me. Would not buy it for my french collection.

Bored housewife, unappreciated by her husband etc. interviews two student prostitutes, gets intrigued and then turned-on by their seemingly more exciting, more liberated lifestyle. Lots and lots of questioning looks and smiling between the interviewer and interviewees and... thats about it. No real exploration of the realities of these girls lives, or their clients, a couple of fairly graphic but unerotic scenes and huge amount of well worn cliches. All explored before in the equally insipid, superficial and cliched Belle de Jour. The issues it raises are interesting but, like Belle de Jour, it delivers no answers and the real question is what on earth is Juliette Binoche doing in such a boring and pointless film? A waste of her and your time.

Kind of has a basic there and back again plot. No character arcs. An arrogant exploration of banality. Might have been funny with an REM soundtrack, everybody hurts.... sometimes.... Instead they ripped off classical music.

I wanted to like this movie but it didnt happen, such a boring movie I didnt like it at all

Julliete is always brilliant but this is a very interesting movie with superb acting that Id recommend to anyone but the most extreme prude

Juliette B is a gem of an actress. It is exciting to wtach her.

In Elles, lots of things were revealed and lots of things were concealed. Either way, the truth managed to escape: Youth is a burden and aging is a bitch. Theres no winning in the games people play and the only prize worth keeping is oneself.

There is nothing really memorable about this movie, and the storyline is weak. Juliette Binoches acting was the most positive part of the movie.