Elles

A film promoted to be about student prostitution that ends up being an examination of society, loneliness, and sexuality. Which is absolutely fabulous as movie turns out to be all about Anne and Anne is none other than Juliette Binoche. It's been a while since I see Binoche in such an intense role, a role that allows her to showcase her immense greatness as an actress.

There are few scenes that are stuck in my mind and know that will replay them often as her face says so much that's unbelievable how Binoche can deliver so well emotions with subtle eyes and mouth movements. This is her movie and well, is not the regular kind of movie she has been doing lately.

Film tells about Anne, a journalist for Elle, that his latest assignment is about student prostitution. But Anne works at home and I have the impression that most of the movie happens in or nearby the kitchen. Film is not sequential and the only way I could follow what was going on is noticing the costumes; but there are three basic storylines, one is the park interview with Charlotte (Anaïs Demoustier), another is the living room interview with Alicja (Joanna Kulig) and the third is what happens to Anne after those interviews. Charlotte and Alicja answer Anna's questions and most are recreated, so in between you will see quite graphic sex. If you ask me the recreations are done to show what Anne was thinking while trying to work on the article, as that's exactly how the movie starts. Won't say more as you have to watch movie to see what happens to Anne.

As a film is good but editing, even do I know was used to show how Anne compares her world and life with that of the girls, was on the too-much side. Sometimes scissors are better in the kitchen than in the editing room and this one is one of those occasions. But tech specs are impeccable with some great compositions that showcase Juliette Binoche splendidly. So Malgorzata Szumowska has composed an interesting film if you enjoy what I'm going to call a very French story/film in the hands of a developing Polish director; a film that shows her talent and tells about a possible bright future. Film was screened at the 2012 Berlinale in the Panorama Special section and Anaïs Demoustier collected the 2012 Etoile d'Or for the Best Female Newcomer, an award given by the Presse du Cinéma Français.

This is not a lesbian interest movie but then maybe, as the living room interview is one of the most incredibly hot scenes that I have seen lately but unfortunately when something surely happens camera goes blur and all is left to your imagination; but you get some clues, like when Anne is in the kitchen cleaning the coquilles, that will allow you to pinpoint whatever you imagined. So I'll give the label, but be aware that there is a lot of graphic sex between the young women and their customers.

No need to tell you how much I enjoyed film, mainly because has an incredible performance by Juliette Binoche in an intense role and if you have to see everything with Binoche -like me- then this movie is absolutely must be seen for you. Nevertheless I know that many will not like the film that unfortunately was sensationalized by absurd marketing that promotes story as student prostitution when film has not much to do with it.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC