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Elle is unbelievably elegant, in quiet moments cheeky and provocative in its staging of sexualized violence. The film is based on a novel by Philippe Dijan and was adapted by David Birke for the screen. Power relations and the psychology of its protagonists are at the center of Elle. Paul Verhoeven combines several film genres and introduces us to a variety of characters that relate to the main character at different levels. At the beginning, the protagonist Michèle Leblanc is raped by her neighbor. Her cat is watching the cruel deed in her house with an indifference that runs through the whole film like a common thread. After the rape, Michèle continues her life with a recklessness and consistency, which astonishes the audience....