“The fifth Element”
Luc Besson’s cinematic multipass turns 25
Milla Jovovich as Leeloo in The Fifth Element.
© imago images/Everett Collection
It’s been 25 years since Luc Besson’s “The Fifth Element” hit the cinemas. Today, the strip is considered by many to be a cult sci-fi film.
A blonde action star and a scantily clad model might not promise a good flick. But if you add one of the most versatile actors of our time, unusual costumes, idiosyncratic characters, unforgettable scenes and a mixture of pop culture influences that is difficult to classify, the result is a cult film. And this cult film is celebrating a special birthday in 2022. “The fifth Element” started 25 years ago, on August 28, 1997, on the screens of German cinemas.
The science fiction film is one of the masterpieces of the French director, author and producer Luc Besson (63). This delivered a second, absolute classic within only about three years. In 1994, “Léon – The Professional” was first published, in which a hitman (Jean Reno, 74) and a girl (Natalie Portman, 41) developed an unusual relationship.
Milla Jovovich came up with the idea for her iconic costume
Bruce Willis (67) and Milla Jovovich (46) are the focus of “The Fifth Element”. On the one hand the Hollywood star, who became an action icon in the late 1980s with “Die Hard”, on the other hand the model who hadn’t really made a name for herself in films. As a cab driver, Korben Dallas, Willis accidentally meets young Leeloo (Jovovich), who turns out to be the fifth element, charged with protecting the earth from evil. Like Korben in his unexpected adventure, the viewers slide through a colorful universe from which they never quite know what to expect next.
The shrill world of the film lies somewhere between pop aesthetics and candy sci-fi. The unusual costumes designed by the French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier (70) are also responsible for this. However, Jovovich himself had the idea for one of the most iconic film outfits of the past few decades. After Leeloo is cloned and thus virtually reincarnated, she wears a few bandages on her body that only cover what is absolutely necessary. Besson and Gaultier talked about the idea after Jovovich came up with it – and the designer loved it, the actress explained to “Vogue” in May.
Another important part of the production is that the film is repeatedly loosened up with comedic interludes. Just think of the multipass, which probably everyone who has ever seen “The Fifth Element” should have remembered. Last but not least, it is also the charmingly quirky characters that fill the film world with life. Be it the outstanding Gary Oldman (64), who could probably portray almost anything and everyone convincingly, as the antagonist Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg or Chris Tucker (50) as the flamboyant Ruby Rhod. It all merged into an original mix, which over the years was able to gather a wide following.
A sequel seems unthinkable
Fans should probably not hope for a successor to “The Fifth Element”, because there are several good reasons against it. Surely a twist could be found in principle to tell another story about Korben Dallas and Leeloo. But a quarter of a century has now passed since the cult film was released and two important people would not be on board.
Willis’ family announced in March 2022 that the leading actor was retiring from acting. The action legend suffers from aphasia. This is a disorder that can affect all areas of speech. Those affected may have problems speaking and understanding language, including reading and writing. A successor without Willis? For many fans probably unthinkable.
Director Besson, who laid the basis of the story for the film when he was only 16, also rejects a sequel, as he told “comicbook.com” in 2017. The story has nothing in its DNA for another film. “So no, I don’t think it would be good,” Besson said of a sequel. “It’s going to be fake. It’s just going to be for the money and I’m not interested in it.”
Things are different with the characters of Dane DeHaan (36) and Cara Delevingne (30) from his film “Valerian – The City of a Thousand Planets” from 2017. You can send the two agents on as many missions as you want. He would also like to, said Besson at the time. The screenplay should have been finished at least years ago. Even though the film might have reminded some of “The Fifth Element” thanks to its images, “Valerian” is far from enjoying the status of a cult film at the moment.
But you never know. Leeloo, Korben and the other characters from “The Fifth Element” also had their problems with the critics 25 years ago. Jovovich and Tucker were each nominated for the negative Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress and Worst Newcomer, respectively. And the magazine “Slate” wrote at that time, the action sci-fi “might or might not be the worst movie ever made,” but the production is certainly one of the craziest. So maybe Besson is just ahead of his time.
If you have never seen the film before or would like to reminisce, you can currently stream “The Fifth Element” on Netflix and MagentaTV.