oyvindmidteng Never mind the critical reviews...If you know a little bit about Michel Houllebecq, this is a really funny movie. The guy is clearly, in real life, as annoying and stubborn as the image you get from his novels, though still somehow charming. The ending of this movie is absolutely priceless, but I will not spoil it by revealing it. This movie is for people who are smart enough to value the comedy of Seinfeld and Larry David. And, of course, the comedy of Michel Houllebecq himself.

Ulf Kjell Gür I think it's hard to be Michel Houellebecq. Perhaps even more difficult to have him as a guest in your home. This fact hits these captors soon. They are having a hard time getting rid of him. The man is abysmally egotistical. Contrived, artificial and perverted in enormous proportions that one must ask whether Michel Houellebecq really exist. The film is from one perspective about the Stockholm syndrome. But very superficially. MH just has to show us all of his unique original misery. As his persona mix of Sartre, Bukowski, Stalin and Baader, which he so diligently cultivate. So now we know that he likes sex, and drinks a lot, palaver on politics and drive fast cars. I sometimes laugh uncontrollably. And I have read more than one of his books. And I must confess - his anti-charisma enhance our magnificent lives in the deluge. Do not let him into your life. Enjoy him at a distance.

Bob Taylor ... you're getting a big surprise. No, seriously--I really don't know what to make of this. Cinema-verite? Fictionalized non-fiction? What the Hell is this supposed to be, anyhow? One thing it is not is interesting. It was waiting for me when I got home--I had pvr'd it--and I sat down to watch Houellebecq shamble and mumble his way through the non-story. He's missing most of his teeth, I guess, that's the only way I can account for his almost incomprehensible speech, and his performance will put you to sleep, guaranteed. His captors, if that's what they are, are no more interesting to watch.The only saving grace in this mess is Francoise Lebrun, who had played Veronika in La maman et la putain some 40 years before. Her performance was astonishing in Eustache's film, and she manages to bring some class to this one.

rs-61 I liked the film, I found it captivating in spite of or perhaps because of Michel's appearance as of late-what happened to his upper front teeth? More important: why hasn't had some bridgework done? Is he making some kind of point by completely distorting his appearance, purposely trying to look like an old bum. Catch the scene where he is trying to talk and eat a sandwich, it's not an easy scene to watch. The funniest scene is where they are trying to teach him free fighting. And the end is very strange. So ten lines minimum ? Check out the review elsewhere on this page-I just can't get past the fact that his appearance has so radically changed, as if he is saying "f-ck appearances, i just don't care anymore, and you shouldn't either". But what about the females? Has he given that up as well?