There is an odd fascination with famous actors wanting to be in a movie directed by Lars von Trier. I have not yet discovered what their reasoning would be. Returning performers like Charlotte Gainsbourg and Stellan Skarsgård have me wondering what their true motives are each time they come again for another acting role in his movies. After watching this movie series and Antichrist, I wondered aloud to a co-worker of mine what kind of messed up childhood Charlotte Gainsbourg must have gone through if she keeps coming back to act in these intense movies. I first watched Volume One and Two shortly after they were released on home video. It is a shock to watch a film that is not intended to be a pornographic video containing so many visual elements of penises in various states of flaccidity and erection. It is a porn movie without wanting the audience to focus on the erotic nature of the sexualized act. Full frontal nudity with the female body has been displayed on several occasions in movies since its invention over a hundred years ago. However, full-frontal male nudity is a rare element in traditional films unless intended to be utilized in a porno. Lars von Trier’s movies are harsh. They are not for everyone.
After a repeated viewing of this movie, my initial reaction changed. The same could be said about von Trier’s other films also. He tells character development stories based on the reality of human depravity. The characters in his movies, such as this one, might be the most truthful to the emotional deterioration their real-world counterparts have suffered.
It should be noted von Trier has struggled with emotional and mental issues over the years. It is not exactly a secret. And he is notorious for being rough with the actors while on the movie set during the production process. His Depression Trilogy consisting of Antichrist, Melancholia, and Nymphomaniac, has to be the roughest and emotionally raw for all of his movies. Do not tread lightly with his films.
It would be fitting to describe this movie as a controversial and provocative film that explores the life and sexuality of a self-diagnosed nymphomaniac named Joe. The film is divided into five chapters, each depicting a different stage of her exploration, from her childhood to middle age. It is not a conventional narrative but rather a series of flashbacks that Joe recounts to Seligman, a kind stranger who finds her beaten and abandoned in an alley. The film contains graphically explicit scenes of sex and violence alongside philosophical and literary references that contrast with Joe’s experiences.
The film challenges us to question their morality, sexuality, and humanity. As well as the role of art and cinema in depicting such taboo subjects. The film is not for everyone, as it can be seen as a masterpiece or a monstrosity, depending on one’s perspective and sensibility.
Nymphomaniac: Vol. I (2013)
DIRECTOR: Lars von Trier.
WRITERS: Lars von Trier.
MPAA RATING: NC-17 – Viewer discretion is advised.
GENRES: Drama.
LENGTH: 2h 28min. (Director’s Cut)
LANGUAGE: English.
WHERE TO RENT: JustWatch, ReelGood
★★★★☆ | WATCHED: July 3, 2023
The Buzz Track 