NZIFF Film Review: "Elle" (2016).

From the director of Basic Instinct and Black Book comes Elle. This French thriller film directed by Paul Verhoeven, adapted by David Birke, and based on the novel Oh... by Philippe Djian. Michèle seems indestructible. Head of a successful video game company, she brings the same ruthless attitude to her love life as to business. Being attacked in her home by an unknown assailant changes Michèle's life forever. When she resolutely tracks the man down, they are both drawn into a curious and thrilling game-a game that may, at any moment, spiral out of control.

After producer Saïd Ben Saïd sent Verhoeven a copy of Djian's novel, Verhoeven's interest was immediately piqued. Verhoeven stated that he felt the movie was an opportunity for him to do "something very different to anything I've done before." During the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, the project was unveiled at the Marché du Film. Verhoeven was looking for an actress who would be "prepared to take that on" and believed Nicole Kidman "could handle this role." However, she turned it down. Charlize Theron, Julianne Moore, Sharon Stone, Marion Cotillard, Diane Lane, and Carice van Houten were also considered for the title role. Verhoeven told The Guardian that he reckons that the only American actress who would have been willing is Jennifer Jason Leigh. However, she also turned it down. Verhoeven's inability to convince a major American actress to play the part left him frustrated. The film was originally supposed to take place in Boston or Chicago but, according to Verhoeven, it proved to be "too difficult" to shoot the film in the United States due to its violent and immoral content. Verhoeven then decided to do it in French and used a significant time before production to learn the language, in order to effectively communicate with the predominantly French cast and crew. In September 2014, Isabelle Huppert signed on to star in the title role. Huppert had expressed interest in a screen adaptation of the book before Verhoeven. She joined the production and accepted the part immediately. By early January 2015, Laurent Lafitte, Anne Consigny, Christian Berkel, Virginie Efira, Charles Berling, Alice Isaaz, Judith Magre, Vimala Pons, Jonas Bloquet, Lucas Prisor, and Raphaël Lenglet rounded out the film's cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced, and wrapped in March. Filming took place in Paris and Yvelines, France, and was shot digitally on the Red Dragon cameras, the first for Verhoeven. Federico Fellini's 8½ (1963), Jean Renoir's The Rules of the Game (1939) and Orson Welles' Touch of Evil (1958) served as influences for the film.

The film stars Huppert, Lafitte, Consigny, Berkel, Efira, Berling, Isaaz, Magre, Pons, Bloquet, Prisor, and Lenglet. Terrific performances were given by the cast, especially Huppert. Huppert was astonishing, and if someone were on the ball she'd be world famous sooner rather than later.

In Elle, Verhoeven does not focus on moral discourse but rather on human measure, and with the non-cynical approach of his female lead and of love he has given new colour to his work.

Simon says Elle receives:

Also, see my NZIFF review for Safety Last! and An Eastern Westerner.