Demonlover (2002)

Two corporations compete for illicit 3D manga pornography, sending spies to infiltrate each other's operations.

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 | black panties | misogyny | rape victim | female female kiss | 

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Genres:

Thriller | Drama | Mystery

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, sexual content and some language

Details

Official Sites:

Palm Pictures

Country:

France

Language:

English French Japanese

Release Date:

6 November 2002 (France)

Also Known As:

Agente Infiltrada

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

€7,032,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$39,284, 21 September 2003

Gross USA:

$231,756

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

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

Diane (Connie Nielsen) pronounces the word 'manga' incorrectly.

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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 Godzilla (1998)

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Soundtracks

Could've Moved Mountains...
Written and performed by Thee Silver Mt Zion (as Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band)

User Reviews

I liked it, but not until the final scene (that is given away below).

Darn it, I liked this movie. At first, I had great difficulty following this film. However, the plot and cinematography were interesting enough to keep my attention and get me thinking. At first, Diane appears empowered by participating in some macho corporate espionage within the cutthroat world of technology. After the initial scene, we are shown that she really isn't in control. Diane's life unravels thread by thread. As the film progresses, we find out that she isn't even in charge of her own gopher: Diane is a puppet...a slave. What made Diane risk her job, her freedom? What makes the characters want to control and abuse people? A twerp who stole his daddy's credit card. Demonlover is a well-crafted comment on manipulation, commercialism, and (dare I say it?) the abuse of capitalism.