An investigation of young female students turning to prostitution in order to fund their university studies.
Binoche is, as always, superb, but Malgorzata Szumowska’s film won’t tell you much about the oldest profession that you didn’t already know – and Binoche’s marital clashes feel like a standard feminist tract circa 1975.
A clunky attempt at examining some well-worn themes, director Malgorzata Szumowska’s risible film seems almost as salacious as the escort trade it’s supposed to be documenting.
Polish director Malgorzata Szumowska's drama is as glossy as a monthly mag. Ultimately, despite the performances, it's just as shallow.
When Binoche’s character drunkenly gets intimate with one of her interviewees, it further exposes the film as a salacious fantasy, not dissimilar to Anne Fontain’s trashy 2003 film Nathalie, but minus any awareness of its own ridiculousness.
A rather dull and smug experience.
Elles is the polar opposite of Steve McQueen’s Shame: while that film was a scorching tract on the commodification of desire, this is just smut with a baccalauréat.
Another bravura performance from Juliette Binoche glosses over the flaws in a soft-focused glimpse at the seamier side of student life.
Juliette Binoche does the quaint movie-journalist thing investigating student escort work in this preposterous film.
An interesting subject but a dull film.
The best reason to see Elles is the supporting duo: Kulig as feisty, flirty Alicja, and Demoustier, one of French film's liveliest new talents.
Juliet Binoche
Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow from Friday April 20, 2012, until Thursday April 26, 2012. More info: http://www.glasgowfilm.org/theatre/
General release. Check local listings for show times.
Cameo, Edinburgh from Friday April 27, 2012, until Thursday May 3, 2012. More info: http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/