Demonlover (2002)

A French corporation goes head-to-head with an American web media company for the rights to a 3-D manga pornography studio, resulting in a power struggle that culminates in violence and espionage.

Director:

Olivier Assayas

Writer:

Olivier Assayas

Stars:

Connie Nielsen, Gina Gershon, Chloë Sevigny

4 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Connie Nielsen	...	Diane de Monx
Charles Berling	...	Hervé Le Millinec
Chloë Sevigny	...	Elise Lipsky
Dominique Reymond	...	Karen
Jean-Baptiste Malartre	...	Henri-Pierre Volf
Gina Gershon	...	Elaine Si Gibril
Edwin Gerard	...	Edward Gomez
Thomas M. Pollard	...	Avocat américain
Abi Sakamoto	...	Kaori - la traductrice
Naoko Yamazaki	...	Eiko
Nao Ohmori	...	Shoji (as Nao Ômori)
Jean-Pierre Gos	...	Verkamp - Contact Diane
Julie Brochen	...	Gina - Amie de Diane
Randall Holden	...	Ray
Alexandre Lachaux	...	Erwan - Broker #1

Storyline

Diane works for a French firm bidding to purchase a Japanese animation outfit. Diane maliciously hatches a plot to take the job of her supervisor Karen. The plan succeeds, but then Diane faces problems when a competing American firm, represented by Elaine, becomes involved. Diane's assistant Elise remains loyal to Karen, and she frustrates Diane's every move. When it comes to light that the one of the concerned parties controls an Internet site which broadcasts actual torture, the plot thickens.

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Plot Keywords:

pornography | voyeurism | voyeur | coitus | copulation | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, sexual content and some language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The prêt-a-porter featured is from a Fred Sathal collection and is credited along the movie and video game extracts featured.

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Goofs

The film confuses the word Manga (which is Japanese comic books). The word the film should have used was Anime (which is Japanese animation).

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Quotes

Hervé Le Millinec: I saw you move. I saw you with Volf.
Diane de Monx: What did you see?
Hervé Le Millinec: How you operated. I admire you.
Diane de Monx: You didn't see anything. No one sees anything. Ever. They watch... But they don't understand.

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Alternate Versions

There are at least three versions of the film:

• the R-rated version
• the unrated director's cut (which has less pixalation and a longer Hellfire club scene)
• the version originally shown at Cannes (assumed to be ca. 10 minutes longer)

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Connections

References Barbarella (1968)

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Soundtracks

Superdead
Performed by Sonic Youth

User Reviews

Didn't love the demon

Demonlover is in many ways an interesting movie. The French critics didn't like it, which is a reason on itself to go to see it (the French tend to praise their own stuff most of the time). So, that's what I did. And it leaves you unsettled just like Cronenberg's Crash. Same industrial 'cool' spaces, same underacted performances (Nielsen is brilliant) and all in all a plot that goes off track near the end. When you leave the theatre, you're not sure whether you've seen a good movie or not. So what is it about? Espionage, 3D Manga porn, control & controlled, torture (physically and mentally) and betrayal. Interesting stuff that keeps you hooked on the screen for the first 1,5 hour, but director Assayas overkills the last half hour by adding unnecessary plot twists, unexplained events and an ending that kinda leads to nowhere. Still, the stunning visuals and the Sonic Youth score make it all worth the visit. Also check out Assayas' Irma Vep.

Details

Country:

France Mexico Japan

Language:

French English Japanese

Release Date:

6 November 2002 (France)

Also Known As:

Demonlover

Filming Locations:

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Roissy-en-France, Val-d'Oise, France

Box Office

Budget:

EUR7,032,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$39,284, 21 September 2003

Gross USA:

$232,044

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$462,976

Company Credits

Production Co:

Citizen Films, Cofimage, Elizabeth Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min 117 min (unrated) 115 min (R-rated)

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES Dolby Digital EX

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1