Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- sensual
- provocative
- campy
- cult cinema night
- 1970s film retrospective
What critics said
Critics generally found the film visually polished and atmospherically sensual but excessively self-conscious, thinly acted, and troubling in its treatment of sexual freedom and exploitation.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film foregrounds sunlit Thai locations, fashion textures, attractive bodies, and carefully staged sexual encounters.
Emmanuelle pursues extramarital experiences and becomes increasingly fascinated by Bee while living within an unusually permissive marriage.
The film's erotic freedom is complicated by the objectification of Emmanuelle and the gang-rape sequence involving local men.
Bangkok and a jungle excursion provide the geographic and visual backdrop for Emmanuelle's sexual exploration.
Films like Emmanuelle, and why
The Story of O
shared erotic drama framework, sexual exploration, and provocative treatment of social conventions
Bilitis
shared softcore eroticism, luxurious international settings, and stylized sexual fantasy
Salon Kitty
shared sexploitation context, sensual atmosphere, and controversial depiction of sexual freedom
Belle de Jour
shared erotic drama, transgressive desire, and emphasis on visual sensuality over plot
Movie Details
- Director
- Just Jaeckin
- Release Date
- 1974-06-25
- Runtime
- 95 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (837)
Cast
- Sylvia Kristel
- Alain Cuny
- Marika Green
- Daniel Sarky
- Jeanne Colletin
- Christine Boisson
- Gabriel Briand
- Marion Webb
- Gregory
- Yves Rousset-Rouard
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- MUBI
- Rent
- Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Emmanuelle about?
- A young expatriate in Bangkok explores a permissive marriage and increasingly transgressive desires through a lush, controversial erotic drama.
- What is Emmanuelle like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Emmanuelle as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Emmanuelle violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Emmanuelle as mild.
- What did critics think of Emmanuelle?
- Critics generally found the film visually polished and atmospherically sensual but excessively self-conscious, thinly acted, and troubling in its treatment of sexual freedom and exploitation.
- Which films are like Emmanuelle?
- Films with a similar feel include The Story of O, Bilitis, Salon Kitty, and Belle de Jour.
- How long is Emmanuelle?
- Emmanuelle runs 95 minutes.
- Where can I watch Emmanuelle?
- In United States, Emmanuelle streams on MUBI.
