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Irreversible On DVD

Film // Jim // 11th May 2005

I have been putting off watching Irreversible for absolutely ages. Any film that is most well known for containing a violent rape scene (that caused even cynical critics to walk out of the press screenings) isn’t exactly screaming “Rent me, not that Bill Murray comedy” in a convincing manner to most people.

Finally I’ve sat through it (and I do mean sat through it) and although I can’t say I really enjoyed the experience I’m glad I did manage to watch the film.

Outlining the plot of Irreversible doesn’t really give the game away; A couple, Alex and Marcus, along with a friend, Pierre go to a party. She leaves early and is attacked and raped in an underpass. Marcus and a reluctant Pierre (who is also her ex), track down and confront the person that they think did it to seek violent retribution.

The trick being that like the excellent Christopher Nolan film Memento the whole thing is told backwards. The first half of the film contains all of the (in)famous material, presented in a demented style with a floating, dis-orienting camera and disturbing soundtrack . This part of the film is sickening in both content and presentation, the revenge segment takes place in a hellish gay club called "Rectum" and climaxes with a shocking, objective sequence of violence that nearly made me lose my dinner.

The circumstances leading to this horrific denouement are gradually revealed, with the pivotal element being the assault on Alex. This is so grim that it makes the bit at the start look like Blue Peter, the camera stops spinning around and the whole thing is shown in one painfully long, still sequence. At this point you will probably wonder why you are watching the film, stick with it - you need to see the whole lot to get these scenes in context.

Irreversible: Fucked up, bizarrely worthwhile

As we travel back through the party, the train journey to get there and events earlier in the day, the style of the film relaxes. The long takes that are so painful to sit through during the opening (yet climactic) scenes provide a showcase for the extremely natural relationships between the characters. This is especially true in the scenes between Alex and Marcus played by “European cinema’s most glamourous couple” Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassell. The real plot development takes place in these (earlier) later scenes and the moments of love and hope, which you know are going to be ruined later, mean that the film packs a real emotional as well as visceral punch.

The acting is superb across the range of the film from the lovey dovey stuff, through the piss-taking train journey and on to the descent into horror and rage. Technically, it all seems a bit show off, but the device of the long takes and mad camera that is so unsettling at the start makes complete sense as events unwind.

The debates that have raged around Irreversible fall into three main camps:
1. It could certainly be argued that there are misogynistic and homophobic elements at play in the more extreme scenes. The director has been labelled a “woman hater” by some.
2. Some would say that the film is incredibly honest in its portrayal of seriously distressing events (there is no flashy editing or slow motion at the crucial points) and that the real message of the film is extremely anti-violent.
3. It could be a load of pseudo-philosophical bollocks with some nasty bits cynically thrown in to stoke the fires of controversy and capture an audience.

In my opinion a little bit of each of these arguments is probably true. Irreversible is one of those films that you really need to see to make up your own mind about it rather than believing the hype.

In short; A fucked up, shockingly depressing but bizarrely worthwhile film.

PS Spare a thought for the poor bastards who had to do the translation and subtitles, probably not the most enjoyable of assignments.

Irreversible links

French Promotional Site

Scary flash effort en fraincais

Irreversible Errors

A review by someone that didn't like it

Interview with monica Bellucci

From film monthly