Venus in Fur (2014)
82%RT Audience Score: 72%
Awards & Nominations: 7 wins & 18 nominations
Provocative, funny, and brilliantly acted, Venus in Fur finds Roman Polanski in top late-period form
Venus in Fur is like a twisted game of cat and mouse, but with more leather and sexual tension. Polanski’s direction is on point, but I couldn’t help but wonder what the film was trying to say about feminism and gender roles. Regardless, Emmanuelle Seigner steals the show with her sexy and imposing performance. Plus, Alexandre Desplat’s score is the perfect accompaniment to this dark and delightful film.
Production Company(ies)
Mosfilm Vtoroe Tvorcheskoe Obedinenie
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Théâtre Hébertot – 78 bis Boulevard des Batignolles, Paris 17, Paris, France
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2013
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 35m
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Language(s):French, German
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Country of origin:United States, France
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 20, 2014 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 14, 2014
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Emmanuelle Seigner, Mathieu Amalric, directed by Roman Polanski, written by Roman Polanski, David Ives, David Ives, Comedy, Drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Judy Berman, Steve Davis, Eddie Cockrell, Jake Wilson, Joe Williams, Steven Rea, Mike Massie, Richard Propes, Allen Almachar, Chris McCoy, Nicholas Bell, MPAA rating, Robert Benmussa, Alain Sarde, produced by Roman Polanski, actress audition, misogynistic writer, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, French (France), IFG Films, Vanda, Thomas, interplay, cat and mouse game, character development, French theatre, top late-period form
Worldwide gross: $8,350,026
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $10,607,439
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,952
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,156,755
US/Canada gross: $373,605
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $474,608
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,336
US/Canada opening weekend: $24,761
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $31,455
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,356
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Mathieu Amalric – Thomas
Roman Polanski – Director, Screenwriter
David Ives – Screenwriter
Robert Benmussa – Producer
Director(s)
Roman Polanski
Writer(s)
Roman Polanski, David Ives, David Ives
Producer(s)
Robert Benmussa, Alain Sarde, Roman Polanski
Film Festivals
Sundance, Tribeca, Cannes
Awards & Nominations
7 wins & 18 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (117) | Top Critics (46) | Fresh (103) | Rotten (14)
Lighthearted as it is, Venus in Fur has the rare effect of filtering the viewer’s life through its own extreme lens.
September 21, 2017
Judy Berman
Flavorwire
TOP CRITIC
While the extraordinarily talented Polish-born director rarely falters in translating the source’s theatrical strengths, his Venus in Fur feels oddly impersonal, lacking the trademark touch of Polanski perversity.
September 4, 2014 | Rating: 3/5
Steve Davis
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
What plays out is roller-coaster ride of shifting identity and sexual brinkmanship…Mischievous and sadistic by turns, it becomes a deadly serious battle of the sexes.
July 23, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Eddie Cockrell
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
Venus In Fur is essentially a weightless skit, a parody of those hoary old archetypes of Man and Woman. But it’s also a tribute to Seigner, who seizes the gift of a role that allows her to be sexy, funny and imposing.
July 17, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Jake Wilson
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
“Venus in Fur” is a stellar achievement.
July 17, 2014 | Rating: 3.5/4
Joe Williams
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
Wickedly smart and wickedly playful, Roman Polanski’s adaptation of David Ives’ Tony-nominated Venus in Fur works on so many levels, it’s almost dizzying.
July 11, 2014 | Rating: 4/4
Steven Rea
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
Routinely nears perfection but misses the mark considerably with the conclusion.
December 4, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Alexandre Desplat’s original score is spry and energetic, dark and delightful.
September 26, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
There are themes presented, mostly regarding feminism, sexuality, and gender roles, but I wonder what the film is actually saying about those themes?
July 20, 2020 | Rating: B-
Allen Almachar
The MacGuffin
A challenging, timely, and entertaining movie.
January 8, 2020
Chris McCoy
Memphis Flyer
A dark labyrinth of comedic mind games that does with words what something like Lady from Shanghai does with mirrors.
August 30, 2019
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com
An erotic firecracker of a movie; at once coy and vivacious, fascinating and mysterious.
August 7, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row…
Plot
An actress with a hidden agenda auditions for a misogynistic writer’s play in Venus in Fur, a provocative and funny comedy/drama directed by Roman Polanski.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Emmanuelle Seigner delivers a “darkly erotic” performance in Venus in Fur, according to one audience review.
Roman-Polanski.jpg
