If you have never read Monseuir Houllebecq, I highly reccomend you do so. Start with the unfortunately English-titled "Whatever" for an intro to his work. Warning, it is dark, caustic, containing racism, masturbation, mental illness, and suicide but before you say WTF?, it goes deeper into the alienation of modern life than his predecessors, Camus and Satre, and is often so funny it hurts, much like Ferdinand Celine. His writing, even in translation, is excellent, and you will be hard-pressed to find a more honest artist working today. Which is why I am not surprized the Filmmakers who have made his book into a movie had to "cheer it up" a little:

        "But as the makers of "The Elementary Particles" freely admit, it is far less pessimistic than the best seller, which shocked and alienated many readers when it was published in 1998.

"It became clear to us that the novel didn't find a resolution; individuals were left totally alone," German director Oskar Roehler told reporters after his film had its premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on Saturday.

"The conclusion the author draws we didn't feel we could have in the film. Cloning as the only form of reproduction - what would this mean?" he added through an interpreter.

He was referring to the final chapter of "Les Particules Elementaires", which was published as "Atomised" in Britain and "The Elementary Particles" in the United States.

It takes the narrative to a future where genetic scientists master the techniques of cloning and create a new species to replace humans, leaving mankind to die out gradually.

Co-producer Bernd Eichinger concurred with Roehler's decision to freely adapt the novel.

"The film is a bit more conciliatory than the book." (UK-Reuters)

I wonder if Greencine will run abit on the film which I am dying to see. Do check out his work when you have a chance and if any readers care to fire off a review from Berlin, we will gratefully buy you a bottle of White Burgundy if you swing through Tinsel Town.