Sony Pictures Classics acquires Paul Verhoeven’s Elle

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

ELLE, the rape/revenge thriller from ROBOCOP/TOTAL RECALL director Paul Verhoeven, will be screening at the Cannes Film Festival this month, and although it won't be shown there until late in the festival's May 11th – 22nd schedule, it's already drawing attention. So much attention that Sony Pictures Classics has already picked up the distribution rights to release the film in North America, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe (excluding Russia), and Asia (excluding China and Japan).

ELLE stars Isabelle Huppert, an always reliable actress who is said to give "the performance of a lifetime" here as 

Michèle, who seems indestructible. Head of a leading 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 that may, at any moment, spiral out of control.

In addition to Huppert's performance, ELLE is also being talked about because of its rape scene. I don't know exactly what people are saying about it, but hearing that a rape scene is generating buzz gives me unpleasant flashbacks to I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE and IRREVERSIBLE.

ELLE co-stars Laurent Lafitte, Charles Berling, Virginie Efira, and Anne Consigny. Sony Pictures Classics intends to release the film this fall.

Verhoeven and Huppert on set