Violent film made the critics faint
A FILM so violent and sexually explicit it made
movie critics faint is due to be screened in Northampton.
Irreversible, a French tale of rape and revenge, caused 250 people to
flee the cinema when it was shown at last year’s Cannes Film
Festival.
The 18-rated film was deemed so shocking on its January release, it was
not shown in most UK cinemas. But it will be screened at the borough
council-run Forum Cinema in May.
Irreversible, which stars Bond girl Monica Bellucci, divided critics who
either hailed it as a groundbreaking piece of art or a gratuitous
bloodfest with sickening sexual violence.
The leader of the borough council, Councillor Keith Davies (Lab, Ecton
Brook), said: “The Forum Cinema’s brief is to show a variety of films,
including cult films and alternative, foreign language films, rather than
big blockbusters shown in Northampton’s multiplexes. With films like
Irreversible we have to advertise it to ensure that everyone is aware it
contains scenes that might upset or offend. We also have a very tight
procedure to ensure no-one underage can get in.
“Council policy is to offer alternative art, as long as it is not
gratuitous. It’s been given a certificate so people can decide whether
they wish to see it or not. They are free to choose for
themselves.”
Monica Bellucci, who is due to appear in the forthcoming sequels to
sci-fi smash The Matrix, stars in Irreversible with her husband, the
leading French actor Vincent Cassel.
She features in the film’s most controversial scene, a nine-minute rape
shot in one take. At the time of the movie's release, she said: “This is
a film that people will love or hate, but it’s good to have these kind of
extremes.”
The film also shows the suspected rapist being beaten about the head 22
times with a fire extinguisher.
Irreversible has been nominated for several awards, including one at
Cannes, where 250 people fled a screening, unable to stomach the scenes.
Twenty of those were given oxygen after fainting, others vomited in the
cinema.
Empire film magazine described it as “the most disturbing and the most
important film you will see this year”.
But The Guardian's film critic Peter Bradshaw said: “You need to see this
film like you need a fire extinguisher-sized hole in your head.”
Irreversible will be at the Forum Cinema, at Lings Forum, on May 1 and
2.
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