Elle

Jethro's note: I have a smart phone! The following review is (mostly) composed on it.

Philipe Djian's novel Oh... was so dark that its film version couldn't get made in English. They tried. But now that film version, Elle, is here in its native language, French, realized by director Paul Verhouven.

The film immediately opens as Michele Leblanc (Isabelle Huppert) is violently raped in her home by a masked man. She spends the next few hours brushing the incident aside like it's a minor nuisance. She has bigger things on her mind. A slacker son, Vincent (Jonas Bloquet), whose pregnant girlfriend, Josie (Alice Isaaz), is a control freak. A cougar mother, Irene (Judith Magre). The challenges of running her video game company. Her affairs. And that her father is a notorious mass murderer and she was an unknowing accomplice.

Her father's crimes tarnished her reputation years after his trial. She doesn't feel inclined to report her incident because of it. To make matters worse, the assailant decides to stalk her. To make things twisted, Michele carries on a relationship with the man even after she finds him out. But on her terms.

David Burke's screenplay sets its audience ill at ease with its opening. They're left to wonder which is more disturbing: the assault or Michele's calm reaction. She even breaks the news of her assault to her friends during dinner. Awkward. It's the start of an unconventional mystery film. As the film goes on and we learn more about her, her reaction makes sense. "My life is messed up. What else is new?" There are bits of black comedy to relieve the tension. Even Michele's father's motive for murder amounts to an extreme temper tantrum.

Huppert is the main reason to see the film. Michele projects herself a strong successful woman. But she finds herself dominated by her past. She certainly doesn't want her present dominated by some masked man either. So she deals with the insanity in a deadpan manner. Some might call her unhinged but she's hard not to watch. Amongst her supporting cast, the best non-spoiler name was Anne Consigny as her best friend, Anna.

Anne Dudley's haunting score is great as is the sound design. Stephanie Fontaine's cinematography is perfectly eerie and editor Job ter Burg assembles it into a tense narrative. They help the suspense move nicely for 130 minutes.

Elle isn't for the feint of heart or subtitle-weary, that's for sure. Expect a lot if you see it. It's a strong mystery film with a strong lead performance and a memorable conclusion. Its unconventional nature is its greatest asset. Believe it.