Elles (English Subtitled)

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.

Excellent Spanish movie

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.

very lame

The story line was not clear. This was simply soft-core pornography.

Yes

OK fellow movie fans, let me be honest with you, this movie is awful. If you feel that watching a woman get urinated on is art then this is a great film. I never understood why make these films when they are soft porn with a plot. Stick to the real thing if that is what you are after.

When you think about prostitution, what usually comes to mind are the ladies in the street or the so-called bordellos (for rich and poor). But, in the changing world, prostitution keeps evolving due to many reasons, one being our current economies. Not everybody is competitive, and, sadly, some go into this profession as an act of desperation, curiosity, or other reasons. Elles is a fascinating and gripping film that explores these issues in a dramatic and intriguing way. Anne (Juliette Binoche) is apparently a happily-married journalist, who is writing an article about Paris students for Elle magazine. She struggles doing chores at home, including raising a teenage son and a smaller daughter, and doing research for her book. This research involves spending time and interviewing two young college students (Joanna Kulig and Anaïs Demoustier), who, for different reasons, moonlight as prostitutes. The descriptions of their sexual duties are very graphic, and it involves several types of men - mostly married --, who have the most bizarre requests. This assignment slowly affects Annes psyche and personal life, forcing her to make some serious decisions. Directed by Malgoska Szumowska, Elles is another movie that shows us aspects of our daily life that people are not aware of or simply ignore. Student prostitution is a sign of the times, not only in France, but in other places, including the USA. The film, as I say, is kind of graphic in the frank depiction of sex and sexual preferences, including a good dose of nudity. The Blu-ray includes edited and unedited trailers and more. (France, Poland, Germany; 2011, color, 99 min plus additional material) Reviewed on March 12, 2013 by Eric Gonzalez for Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Enjoyed the movie. Lot of porn, but not bad. Great acting, interesting characters, empty lives like many of ours. Every one tries to find meaning about their lives. Some succeed, many dont.

Elles is a serious look at a specific aspect of modern day romantic life in the age of the internet and cellphones. Juliette Binoche stars as a writer for Elle magazine researching (she thinks) an article on young college-age women who offer their services to men in order to obtain the money they need to live as something better than a starving student. Binoches character starts out aloof and almost sneering, with the stereotypical attitude the general public has towards these women, but as she gets to know them better she gets drawn to them and into their world, letting down her journalists guard. What elevates Elles far above a mere fictionalized documentary movie is when Binoches character realizes that she is already part of this world. Aside from one scene in which a character gets assaulted (which is most likely a fantasy, although it is not entirely clear), there are no real victims or perpetrators in Elles. It is just what consenting adults do to satisfy their needs and survive the stresses of modern day life. The centerpiece of Elles by far is Juliette Binoches character, and she gives a star performance. Her character is not terribly attractive, and her face often shows the stresses of the life she leads as a busy working mom, but that is as it should be. She is most appealing when she lets her hair down by getting tipsy with one of her interview subjects, and that scene is a pure joy. The two college students, played by Anais Demoustier and Joanna Kulig, are near opposites in personality, body type and hair color, but each actress gives an intimately revealing portrayal. The men and boys in Elles have much more minor roles, but are well played. The casting and acting are spot-on, and speak to the care with which Elles was obviously made. If this film ever gets remade as an American film with American actors, I doubt it will be anywhere near as good. The only thing that prevents me from giving Elles five stars is that it tries to do a bit much in a short amount of time. There are many scenes and many significant events which rush forward to an ultimately satisfying conclusion. I feel the film could have benefited from a slightly more languorous pace, which would have allowed time to more fully explore everything that happens. Elles is highly recommended for adults who arent afraid to look behind the facade.