Audrey Diwan’s Emmanuelle gets a UK release date

Directed by BAFTA-nominated Audrey Diwan, who previously won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for her groundbreaking film, Happening. Noémie Merlant (Portrait of a Lady on Fire) leads the cast and is supported by Will Sharpe (The White Lotus), Naomi Watts (Mulholland Drive), Jamie Campbell Bower (Stranger Things) and newcomer Chacha Huang, a rising star known for her role in Limbo.

Based on the iconic novel by Emmanuelle Arsan, Diwan’s reimagining brings a fresh and modern perspective. Blending sensuality with an empowering narrative of female autonomy and desire, EMMANUELLE redefines the boundaries of contemporary erotic cinema – emotionally charged, exploring intimacy and gender dynamics.

Emmanuelle is in search of a lost pleasure. She flies alone to Hong Kong on a business trip. In this sensual global city, where she initiates numerous encounters, she meets Kei, a man who constantly eludes her. Audrey Diwan’s film, freely adapted from Emmanuelle Arsan’s novel, casts a female gaze on the intimate quest of the woman whose name still evokes one of cinema’s most provocative characters.

The screenplay is by Audrey Diwan and Rebecca Zlotowski, and is based on the character created by Emmanuelle Arsan.

Emmanuelle will be released in UK and Irish cinemas from 17th January 2025 and on Altitude.Film and other digital platforms from Friday 24th January.