Noémie Merlant and Will Sharpe’s erotic search

A first trailer and a poster are available for Audrey Diwan’s erotic adventure film “Emmanuelle” ahead of its world premiere in September at the San Sebastian Film Festival.

Shot in Hong Kong, the film is a loose adaptation of the novel of the same name by Emmanuelle Arsan. It takes a female perspective on the intimate search of the woman whose name still recalls one of the most provocative characters in cinema.

With Noémie Merlant, star of “Portrait of a Lady on Fire”, in the lead role, Emmanuelle goes in search of a lost pleasure. She flies to Hong Kong alone on a business trip. In this sensual cosmopolitan city, she has numerous encounters and meets Kei (Will Sharpe), a man who keeps eluding her.

In addition to Merlant, the film also stars Naomi Watts, Jamie Campbell Bower, Chacha Huang and Anthony Wong.

Diwan, who won the Venice Golden Lion in 2021 for her film “Happening,” co-wrote “Emmanuelle” with fellow filmmaker Rebecca Zlotowski, whose 2013 feature “Grand Central” competed at Cannes and won the François Chalais Award.

The novel “Emmanuelle” was already made into a film in 1974. It was directed by Just Jaeckin and starred Sylvia Kristel. The film became a cult hit and inspired numerous spin-offs and imitators. According to Diwan, her reinterpretation of the story was intended as an exploration of desire in the post-#MeToo era.

Diwan’s project was originally presented at the 2022 Canned Film Festival with Lea Seydoux in the lead role.

The adaptation rights for Arsan’s book were acquired by Chantelouve (Marion Delord and Reginald de Guillebon). Chantelouve, Rectangle Productions and Goodfellas produced the film. The Veterans is handling worldwide distribution.

“Emmanuelle” is distributed in France by Pathé, where the film will premiere on September 25, just five days after its opening title premiere in San Sebastian.

Watch the trailer for “Emmanuelle” above.