The icon of French erotic cinema will return to the big screen: actress Léa Seydoux was in fact hired to play Emmanuelle in the new adaptation of Emmanuelle Arsan’s risque novel of the same name. The director will be Audrey Diwan, also French and winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival 2021 (thanks to the film ‘The choice of Anne – L’événement’).
Emmanuelle, an icon of erotic cinema
Emmanuelle Arsan’s book was first published in 1967: the plot tells sexual adventures of the protagonist, who has a series of relationships with men, women and even with her husband. The success was remarkable and propitiated the 1974 film adaptation, directed by Frenchman Just Jaeckin and starring Dutchman Sylvia Kristel. Critics were skeptical, but viewers responded well and so came a sequel, released in 1975.
In the wake of enthusiasm, some Italian producers tried to capitalize on the good box office success. Thus was born the series of ‘Emanuelle nera’ (1975), which was produced with lesser capital and had as protagonist the Indonesian actress Laura Gemser.
Léa Seydoux, the new Emmanuelle
Parisian born in 1985, Léa Seydoux began to get noticed in the world thanks to films like ‘Inglourious Basterds’ (2009), ‘Robin Hood’ with Russell Crowe (2010), ‘Midnight in Paris’ (2011) and ‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol’ ( always 2011). She then exploded with ‘The Life of Adele’ (2013) and became a familiar face even to the general public by playing Madeleine Swann in the James Bond films ‘Specter’ (2015) and ‘No Time to Die’ (2021).
She is responsible for bringing Emmanuelle back to the big screen. The new adaptation of Arsan’s novel bears the writer’s signature Rebecca Zlotowski, which has made a name for itself in festivals thanks mainly to ‘Grand Central’, ‘Belle Épine’ and ‘A summer with Sofia’. Directed by the aforementioned Audrey Diwanwhich will make its English-language debut after garnering rave reviews with ‘Anne’s Choice – L’événement’, a drama about abortion and women’s right to control their bodies.
Given the names involved, it is reasonable to expect a film that puts the desire for first freedom e self-determination of a woman who refuses to indulge the behaviors imposed by society.