The most critical decision Besson made was casting Louise Bourgoin as the titular heroine. In a lesser film, Adèle would be a damsel in distress or a sidekick to a male hero. Instead, Bourgoin delivers a performance of razor-sharp wit, physical comedy, and unshakeable confidence. Dressed in a practical (and stylish) beige trench coat and wide-brimmed hat, Adèle is always the smartest person in the room—and she knows it.
One of the film’s greatest pleasures is its loving recreation of 1912 Paris. Besson, working with production designer Hugues Tissandier, paints a picture of the city that is both nostalgic and fantastical. The streets are cobbled; the automobiles are puttering antiques; the fashion is sumptuous. It feels like a storybook come to life. The Extraordinary Adventures Of Adele Blanc-sec -2010
Directed by Luc Besson, The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec The most critical decision Besson made was casting