Compelling. Shocking. Graphic.

Irreversible(2002)

(French, with English subtitles)
Genre: Drama / Horror / Thriller
Director: Gaspar Noé

Cast:
Monica Bellucci .... Alex
Vincent Cassel .... Marcus
Albert Dupontel .... Pierre




Written and Directed by Gaspar Noe(I haven't seen his other films) this French movie is by far one of the most disturbing movies ever made. If you thought A Clockwork Orange was violent, you really need to see this. Its not entirely gore, there's no gangsters, no guns,.. the characters are regular people. One moment you're squirming in your seat at some of the most disgusting and violent acts ever viewed on screen and in the other you're lost in a tender love scene of a couple waking up to each other.

When it was shown at Cannes Film Festival, around 200 people(mostly professional film critics) walked out of the screening, sickened(physically) and needing medical attention. I don't believe in giving out any spoilers so I won't delve into the story. Basically, the gruesome events taking place on a night in Paris are shown backwards (a la Christopher Nolan's Memento). I can't even begin to tell you how real the movie is. It consists of 12 seperate single-take continuous segments without cuts. Camerawork is mostly handheld and its constant movement might cause viewers to get nauseated. The acting is very natural, much of the dialogue is unscripted and Monica Belucci is beauty personified.


The film doesn't glorify or glamorize violence. Yes, there is a stark & horrifying rape scene and a brutal murder, both shot very explicitly but then again, its a sick world, face it. These things happen at alarming rates as per crime statistics in the US/India/anywhere in the world.

Verdict: Unforgivingly disturbing. Not for the faint of heart.