Pour elle (Anything for Her) (2007)

79% of critics liked it
(28 reviews)
72% of users liked it
(1,603 ratings)

With a loving, stable marriage of many years, a devoted son named Oscar (Lancelot Roch) and a quiet life in suburban France, life feels supremely happy for French couple Julien (Vincent Lindon) and Lisa (Diane Kruger). The household is shaken to its core, then, when an unthinkable series of events… More With a loving, stable marriage of many years, a devoted son named Oscar (Lancelot Roch) and a quiet life in suburban France, life feels supremely happy for French couple Julien (Vincent Lindon) and Lisa (Diane Kruger). The household is shaken to its core, then, when an unthinkable series of events befalls the family: the police suddenly turn up and inexplicably arrest Lisa for a murder of which she appears to have no knowledge. She receives a sentence of twenty years in prison, but Julien remains convinced of her innocence - and unwilling to endure the time it will take to sort through French bureaucracy and obtain an appeal. Reeling in turmoil, Julien grows so distraught that he resorts to a desperate plan of action by deciding to spring Lisa from confinement. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Fred Cavayé
Written By: Fred Cavayé, Guillaume Lemans
Genres: Drama, Romance, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Dec 3, 2008 Wide
Studio: Mars Distribution

Critic Reviews

Stephen Cole, Globe and Mail
Pour Elle is a smart, startling thriller; a perfect date movie for couples who like to smoke afterwards.
Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile
Propelled by tension, this gripping prison escape thriller takes the form of a beguiling morality tale as it raises unfathomable issues between right and wrong
Dominic Corry, Flicks.co.nz
Get out and see this magnificent thriller before the American remake (starring Russell Crowe, planned for release later this year) steals its thunder.
Liz Braun, Jam! Movies
The idea of an ordinary guy busting his wife out of prison sounds fairly silly, but you'll still be at the edge of your seat for most of Pour Elle.
Mickey McMonagle, Sunday Mail [UK]
This romance with a twist calls to mind the classy thrillers of the 70s.
Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph
This French thriller hurtles along with hardly a pause.
Rosamund Witcher, Heat Magazine
A taut, sexy, French thriller as long as youre happy to accept the ludicrous premise.
Caroline Jowett, Daily Express
An efficient, highly polished potboiler that rattles along without permitting the viewer any time to ponder the implausible plot.
Derek Malcolm, This is London
There's nothing exceptional about any of this but it is well made, decently acted (Kruger is clearly a star in the making) and rachets up the tension with some skill.
David Parkinson, Empire Magazine
Engaging in places and interesting in its influences.
Dave Calhoun, Time Out
Cavayé's film may not be the cleverest or most credible but it packs an effective punch.
Trevor Johnston, Film4
There's much to enjoy in this admittedly generic thriller - a snappy set-up, strong central performance and a story which escalates from cosy domesticity to bullet-riddled mayhem.
James Christopher, Times [UK]
Heavy-handed teases do very little for the overcooked melodrama.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
The fundamental silliness and improbability of everything is an insuperable problem.
Mike Brett, Little White Lies
Anything For Her proves a competent candyfloss film, but with a suspicious aftertaste of Brussels sprout.
Rob Daniel, Sky Movies
A striking thriller with a strong central performance from Gallic Robert Powell-alike Lindon.

Read all 16 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Fernando Rafael Q

Pour Elle is a well-constructed French thriller that's, at the same time, a pleasing, exciting actioner and a harrowing drama. Excellent cinematography by Alain Duplantier and outstanding work from leads Vincent Lindon and Diane Kruger make the experience all the more powerful.… More
Pour Elle is a well-constructed French thriller that's, at the same time, a pleasing, exciting actioner and a harrowing drama. Excellent cinematography by Alain Duplantier and outstanding work from leads Vincent Lindon and Diane Kruger make the experience all the more powerful. Remade recently as The Next Three Days with Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks.
familiar s

I can't help wondering why Hollywood chose to remake this average thriller. Maybe running out of concepts? However, others might find this movie outstanding since I felt it was an ordinary one (in the near past, Winter's Bone and The Town were such movies which were great… More
I can't help wondering why Hollywood chose to remake this average thriller. Maybe running out of concepts? However, others might find this movie outstanding since I felt it was an ordinary one (in the near past, Winter's Bone and The Town were such movies which were great according to most people, but I found 'em mediocre. I lack the sense of appreciating certain qualities and my ignorance doesn't let me enjoy 'em as much as others can). Check it out; maybe you're blessed with the talent of discovering greatness in what I find to be quite an ordinary work.
Carlos M

Very tense and well directed, this is a decent French thriller that presents great performances by Lindon and Kruger in a plot that is generic but efficient as long as you are willing to accept its rather ludicrous premise.
Brian D

A decent and well though out thriller with some great acting for the two leads.You can touch base here with the husband who is trying to coup with he's wife in prison and looking after he's young son while working and how despite for he's wife to come home. There is a… More
A decent and well though out thriller with some great acting for the two leads.You can touch base here with the husband who is trying to coup with he's wife in prison and looking after he's young son while working and how despite for he's wife to come home. There is a some element of the TV series prison break but don't expect to much of that.The last half hour is the edge of your seat stuff and is very emotional at times.Some may find the end conclusion not that realistic but i found it to finish off the movie well.
Gordon A

Taut thriller with quality leads if somewhat implausible ending.
Panta O

I haven't seen more exciting real thriller for a long time. Photographer-turned-director Fred Cavaye did really good job unfolding the story smoothly and without major mistakes. Good message: You can do anything if you want to do it!
Adam M

French thriller about a happily married couple who appear to have it all but when the wife gets arrested and charged for the brutal murder of her boss, the husband is so confident of her innocence he will do anything to get her out of prison. This starts off ok then dips in the middle… More
French thriller about a happily married couple who appear to have it all but when the wife gets arrested and charged for the brutal murder of her boss, the husband is so confident of her innocence he will do anything to get her out of prison. This starts off ok then dips in the middle and you start to wonder whether you give a shit about the characters and what might happen to them. I don't think your given enough time with the characters before the arrest and this pretty much effects the whole film. Plus, they could have waited longer to show whether the wife actually did commit the murder. Saying that, there are some tense moments and its well acted. Overall, a decent thriller but nothing special. A remake with Russell Crowe in the lead role has just been made called The Last(or next) Three Days or something. Its probably shit so if you're wondering, just check this out instead.