When this film came out in 1969, viewers especially in Italy would have made the beeline connection between its eponymous heroine and the 1959 erotic bestseller by Emmanuelle Arsan (Marayat Rollet-Andriane), especially given the sexy lead actress Erika Blanc. Although absolutely no connection other than the name exists. The original heroine (original = from the book) enjoys and explores sexuality (although she does go too far in that she actually gets raped), in this 1969 movie however we experience a young woman who is dressed up like a Barbie doll, but seems to have serious mental issues in that she often interprets her environment in scenes (fugues) that seem to be straight out of a horror movie. This may have been triggered, but can not have been caused by her being abandoned by her partner. She throws herself "into the arms of several men" only to instantly reprimand them for it like the little social warrior that seems to be hiding under her Chanel costume. Like the English boilerplate for the movie stated: "The QUEER ... The Erotic ... The HIPPIE ... all turned her on!"
This movie delivers a deeply depressing outlook on women and sexuality. Maybe the original character Emmanuelle was a bit shallow, but at least she was entertaining and life-affirming.
Like I said, it's not related in any way, shape or form to the erotic book, but it's also the closest we ever got to a Nouvelle Vague treatment of "Emmanuelle".
This movie delivers a deeply depressing outlook on women and sexuality. Maybe the original character Emmanuelle was a bit shallow, but at least she was entertaining and life-affirming.
Like I said, it's not related in any way, shape or form to the erotic book, but it's also the closest we ever got to a Nouvelle Vague treatment of "Emmanuelle".