Venus in Fur
An audacious actress turns a supposedly routine audition into a seductive battle over authorship, gender, and control.
Overview
A provocative exploration of desire and power dynamics unfolds in a theater rehearsal room.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- provocative
- witty
- claustrophobic
- cinephile evening
- theater night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film gripping and fascinating, praising its volatile performances and concentrated theatrical tension while noting its close adherence to the source play.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Vanda's attempt to win the role becomes an extended contest in which acting, directing, and seduction overlap.
The director and actress conduct their increasingly volatile encounter inside an empty theater during an audition.
Vanda challenges Thomas's machismo and gradually destabilizes his authority over the role and the rehearsal.
The audition repeatedly turns masochism, seduction, and BDSM roles into negotiable acts between Vanda and Thomas.
Films like Venus in Fur, and why
The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant
shared erotic power struggle, theatrical confinement, psychological manipulation, and shifting dominance
Sleuth
shared claustrophobic two-hander structure, erotic tension, and escalating gender politics
Secretary
shared sexual power games, ambiguous identity, and provocative psychological drama
Persona
shared stage-bound intimacy, verbal sparring, and unstable control between performers
Movie Details
- Director
- Roman Polanski
- Release Date
- 2013-05-28
- Runtime
- 96 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (771)
Cast
- Emmanuelle Seigner
- Mathieu Amalric
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Venus in Fur about?
- An audacious actress turns a supposedly routine audition into a seductive battle over authorship, gender, and control.
- What is Venus in Fur like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Venus in Fur as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Venus in Fur violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Venus in Fur.
- What did critics think of Venus in Fur?
- Critics broadly found the film gripping and fascinating, praising its volatile performances and concentrated theatrical tension while noting its close adherence to the source play.
- Which films are like Venus in Fur?
- Films with a similar feel include The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, Sleuth, Secretary, and Persona.
- How long is Venus in Fur?
- Venus in Fur runs 96 minutes.
- Where can I watch Venus in Fur?
- In United States, Venus in Fur streams on Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now.
