Click here!

Elles (18)

Elles (18)

Drama

An investigation of young female students turning to prostitution in order to fund their university studies.

More information on this production is available at www.artificial-eye.com.

The critical consensus

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.

***(*)(*)Philip Kemp, Total Film, 09/04/2012

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.

**(*)(*)(*)Siobhan Synnot, The Scotsman, 17/04/2012

Polish director Malgorzata Szumowska's drama is as glossy as a monthly mag. Ultimately, despite the performances, it's just as shallow.

**(*)(*)(*)Alison Rowat, The Herald, 19/04/2012

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.

**(*)(*)(*)Alistair Harkness, The Scotsman, 19/04/2012

A rather dull and smug experience.

David Jenkins, Little White Lies, 19/04/2012

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.

**(*)(*)(*)Robbie Collin, The Telegraph, 19/04/2012

Another bravura performance from Juliette Binoche glosses over the flaws in a soft-focused glimpse at the seamier side of student life.

***(*)(*)David Hughes, Empire Online, 16/04/2012

Juliette Binoche does the quaint movie-journalist thing investigating student escort work in this preposterous film.

**(*)(*)(*)Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian, 19/04/2012

An interesting subject but a dull film.

**(*)(*)(*)Allan Hunter, Daily Express, 20/04/2012

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.

Jonathan Romney, The Independent, 22/04/2012


Features about Elles (18)

Where and when?

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/

Comments: 0 (Add)

To post a comment, you need to sign in or register. Forgotten password? Click here.

Find a show


Search the site


Find us on …

Find us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterFind us on YouTube

Click here!