And after every scene in which Leeloo seems to assert her independence, she seems to end up unconscious in Dallas’s arms. At one point Korben Dallas states, “when is Leeloo not in trouble?”, as if she’s a toddler on the loose. True, she doesn’t speak English, but that doesn’t mean she has to repeat “multipass” over and over like an airhead, as endearing as that is. Although Leeloo is placed on a pedestal in the film and can certainly hold her own in certain scenes (why shouldn’t a 120-pound woman be able to defeat a team of burly aliens?), in the end she’s as helpless as a poisoned Snow White.ĭespite her role as a savior, throughout the film Leeloo is constantly infantilized–she barely speaks, and when she does she sounds like a child. She is described as the “perfect being” designed to save the planet from evil, which sounds like a pretty feminist image. Of course, the most important woman in The Fifth Element is Milla Jovovich’s Leeloo. Rhod, in short, is a complete contradiction, and seems to break every gender mold out there. Yet he’s also a womanizer, and has a ridiculous effect on women, who fawn over him and are brought to orgasm by his mere presence. Rhod essentially is dressed as a woman, complete with makeup and leopard print jumpsuits, but he acts like a stereotypical gay man (high pitched voice, feminine mannerisms). Rhod’s costumes look like something Lady Gaga would wear (not surprising, considering the star is known for her affinity for Gaultier). One of the most memorable aspects of The Fifth Element is Chris Tucker’s character, the flamboyantly dramatic radio host Ruby Rhod. Certain bizarre character and style choices lead the viewer to think The Fifth Element is transcending the traditional, yet upon closer inspection, it seems that this is just another fairy tale. The story itself is nothing new–an unlikely yet endearing group must team up to save the world from a vague “evil”–but there’s no question that stylistically, this film breaks the mold. At first glance, Luc Besson’s 1997 sci fi epic The Fifth Element seems totally avant-garde, from the bright colors to the techno music to the costumes designed by Jean Paul Gaultier.
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