This version has been translated to English. The French have very different sexual attitudes than Americans. Emmanuelle is a young woman married to an older man, who encourages her sexual independence. The film is adapted from an erotic novel by the same title, which was first released clandestinely in France in 1959. The novel was considered semi-auto biographical, written by the Thai wife of a French Diplomat, who according to legend were known for their sexual exploits among the expats of Bangkok. For it’s American release, the film was given an X rating, but as the movie poster described, “X was never like this”. Because the story is extremely female centered unlike most X-rated films. This was Columbia Pictures first X movie, and they re-edited it for an R rated US cinema release to reach more theaters. But the X version was offered back to the public with the rise in VHS.

This movie was a game changer in how much sex could be shown in a film. Frankly, the whole premise of the film is this young woman’s sexual exploration. It is best described as softcore porn, but was instrumental in female sexual empowerment. It is beautifully shot with the gorgeous Sylvia Kristel starring as the young Emmanuelle on location in Bangkok. The film Emmanuelle spawned 6 sequels. The first four movies and the seventh all starring Sylvia Kristel. The movie opened the doors for more sexually explicitly in films, never before seen in regular theaters, now commonplace in our adult media choices.

Sylvia Kristel interview

In 2007, Sylvia Kristel was interviewed by Telegraph writer Mick Brow. Mr. Brow remarked that the star of Emmanuelle was “winningly candid and unapologetic about herself, devoid of any airs or pretensions.” Sadly Sylvia died in her sleep in 2012 and it was also reported that she suffered with cancer. Regardless, you can watch her in another sexually charged classic, the 1981 movie Private Lessons.

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