Houellebecq - Les films (6-disc box)

The box contains all of Michel Houellebecq's works in the film medium; as a director, screenwriter and more recently also as an actor.

Competition to the Death (1999)

Film adaptation of Michel Houellebecq's debut novel.
A disillusioned portrayal of the increasing competition people are exposed to – a competition that is not only about success in terms of finances or career but is also largely about succeeding sexually. The main character is a computer technician, but not very convinced of the benefits of technology. He plays his role in the organization, observing and describing the power play in the meeting rooms and the banalities at the coffee machines. Together with a colleague, Tisserand, he is sent around to companies in the countryside to install new software. During the trip, he studies Tisserand's vain attempts to win love and sexual success. He witnesses his colleague's humiliation and ultimately finds himself forced to crush his last illusions.

Thank you for your visit (2005)

Feature film interview by Michel Houellebecq directed by Céline Hecquet, interview by Sylvain Bourmeau.

The Elementary Particles (2006)

One fought to satisfy his desires, the other to eradicate them.
Based on the bestseller by Michel Houellebecq

Sexual frustration and self-destructiveness unite half-brothers Michael and Bruno, both of whom have been shaped by their relationship with their absent and liberated hippie mother. The introverted and scientifically brilliant Michael resigns from a prestigious job to resume his genetic research but is unable to handle emotional or physical relationships. However, a meeting with his childhood sweetheart Annabelle pushes him back into the human sphere. Literature teacher Bruno struggles with uninhibited sexual fantasies that he tries to turn into reality while writing racial political pamphlets.

The elementary particles based on the author Michel Houellebecq 's controversial breakthrough novel and won The Silver Bear at Berlin Film Festival 2006, where Moritz Bleibtreu also won the award for best male lead. The other roles include Franka Potente ( Spring Lola, The Bourne Identity ), Christian Ulmen and Nina Hoss ( The White Masai ).

WINNER
The Silver Bear
Berlin International Film Festival 2006

**** “Original and shocking” – SVT
“The humor is black and the actors are very well chosen” – ELLE
“Absurdly humorous” – Slitz
“Delicately played” – Cultural news
“Deeply original” – Expressen
“ Like Todd Solondz's 'Happiness'. A very moving story. ” – Ronny Svensson

Refugee (2008)

A FUTURISTIC VISION OF A MAN AND HIS CLONE.

After many years of isolation, Daniel meets his father, the leader of a cult in Lanzarote. By recruiting a well-known scientist, they hope to create a new human race that can survive the existing one.

Twenty-five generations later, Daniel is the only living person left on Earth, having survived all the disasters that have destroyed humanity. But his life is about to take a new turn after a series of mysterious messages on his computer show that he is not alone on Earth after all...

Directed by Michel Houellebecq based on his futuristic novel.

OFFICIAL SELECTION – LOCARNO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
OFFICIAL SELECTION – STOCKHOLM INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
OFFICIAL SELECTION – BFI LONDON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The Kidnapping by Michel Houellebecq (2014)

WINNER TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL 2014 – BEST SCREENPLAY!

In September 2011, the critically acclaimed and controversial French author disappeared. Michel Houellebecq mysteriously in the midst of the ongoing tour for his new book 'The Map and the Territory'. Rumors began to spread that al-Qaeda or perhaps even aliens were behind the disappearance, and many of the author's opponents even expressed some relief that he was gone.

In this fictional documentary we learn how it “really” happened during the disappearance. Three tough guys took Houellebecq (who plays the role of himself) to a cottage in the countryside, to save him from the daily stress of his life as an intellectual star. Wrestling, old cars, drunken parties, discussions, poetry readings, sex and Polish sausages brighten up the next few days. But what really happened with the kidnapping itself? Is everything just peace and joy now? Who will pay the ransom?

THE CRITICS SAY:

“Gasp laughter & subtlety” – Aftonbladet

“Unpredictable, difficult to categorize in terms of genre and also very entertaining” – South Swedish Daily Newspaper

– Swedish Daily

“Ticklingly entertaining” – Cultural news, SVT

"Smart film entertainment with many potent points" – Art pretties

"Brilliant!" – Indiewire

"The most amazing thing is that even though you know it's not "real", it never feels like anything other than a really cozy and engaging documentary" – Indiewire

"The humor is drier than a Sauvignon Blanc and the actors around Houellbecq complement him perfectly" –The Guardian

Near Death Experience (2015)

Paul is a call center employee and is on the verge of complete burnout. So on Friday the 13th he decides it's time to take matters into his own hands, that is, to take his own life. He sets off on a long hike in the mountains to think about his life and his decision.

A story about life, death, despair, hope, the boredom of our modern society and the bottomless abyss that can seem incomprehensible to many people.

Europe's most controversial writer, and recently also an actor, Michel Houellebecq stars as the life-weary Paul, directed by the duo Benoît Delépine and Gustave Kervern ( The Last Mammoth, Not Dead ), who also each have a supporting role in the film.

“A fascinating journey” – The Hollywood Reporter
**** " Poetic , fun and desperate – in total harmony with Houellebecq 's own universe" – Le Monde
**** “ Minimalistic despite his macabre poetry and existential questions ” – Metro
**** “This existential one-man show has a fantastic strength ! – Premiere

OFFICIAL SELECTION – VENICE FILM FESTIVAL 2014