Irréversible (2002)
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A harrowing tale of violence and retribution unfolds in reverse chronological order through a single night in Paris.
The story
The film depicts the events of one night in Paris as two men, Marcus and Pierre, attempt to avenge the brutal rape and beating of the woman they love, Alex. Told in reverse chronological order, the narrative unfolds through a series of intense segments. The story begins with the aftermath of a violent encounter, moving backward in time to reveal the escalating tensions and the tragic circumstances leading up to the initial assault. The film explores the visceral reality of violence and the desperate, desperate search for a perpetrator in a sprawling, unforgiving urban landscape.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film is told in reverse chronological order, beginning with the aftermath of a brutal assault. Marcus and Pierre are seen searching for the man who raped and beat Alex. They track the perpetrator to a gay BDSM club called Rectum. In a violent confrontation, Pierre kills a man he believes is the culprit, while the actual rapist watches. The narrative moves backward to a party where Alex and Marcus were together, and to a train where Alex and her ex, Pierre, argued. It eventually reaches the moment of the assault in a Paris underpass, where a man known as 'Le Ténia' attacks Alex. The film concludes with a scene of the couple in a state of intimacy before the events began. A separate, non-linear cut of the film, titled 'Straight Cut,' presents the events in chronological order.
- Original title
- Danger
- First release year
- 2002
- Runtime (minutes)
- 97
- Production countries
- France
- Original languages
- French; Portuguese (Brazil)
- Directors
- Gaspar Noé
- Writers
- Gaspar Noé · writer
- Cast and characters
- Monica Bellucci · Alex; Vincent Cassel · Marcus; Albert Dupontel · Pierre
- Genres
- art thriller; rape and revenge
- Themes
- violence; rape; revenge; karma
- Tone and mood
- disturbing; violent; anxious
- Premise and plot tags
- non-linear narrative; extreme violence; French cinema
- Reception
- Critical reception was polarised, with praise towards the performances and Noé's direction, but criticism towards its graphic portrayal of violence and rape. It was noted for its extreme violence and was described by Roger Ebert as 'unwatchable' by some.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 60% · scale: percentage · review count: 129; Metacritic · score: 51% · scale: percentage · review count: 38
- Awards and nominations
- Palme d'Or · Cannes Film Festival · 2002 · nomination; Best Foreign Language Award · Film Critics Circle of Australia · 2002 · nomination; Best Foreign Language Film · Online Film Critics Society Awards · 2003 · nomination; Best Foreign-Language Film · Boston Society of Film Critics Awards · 2003 · runner-up; Best Cinematography · Boston Society of Film Critics Awards · 2003 · runner-up
- Production trivia
- The film was originally titled Danger.; The rape scene was filmed in a single, unbroken shot.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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