Diary of a Nymphomaniac (2008)

After watching Lars von Trier's Nymphomaniac years ago, a movie website (I don't recall which one) suggested I'd watch Diary of a Nymphomaniac (Diario de una ninfómana). And here am I, almost 3 years later, writing about a movie that was nothing like von Trier's movie.

Val (Belén Fabra) is a young woman with an insatiable sexual appetite meaning she has sex with every single man she meets and she just can't get enough. Her whole world revolves around sex basically. Then one day she meets Jaime (Leonardo Sbaraglia) and she falls in love. The relationship is far from being perfect and it eventually leads Val on a very dark path. 

Shame (2011)

Genre

Drama

Director

Steve McQueen

Country

UK

Cast

Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, James Badge Dale, Nicole Beharie, Lucy Walters, Alex Manette, Hannah Ware, Elizabeth Masucci, Rachel Farrar, Loren Omer

Storyline

Brandon (Michael Fassbender) is a New Yorker who shuns intimacy with women but feeds his desires with a compulsive addiction to sex. When his wayward younger sister (Carey Mulligan) moves into his apartment stirring memories of their shared painful past, Brandon's insular life spirals out of control.

Opinion

After striking indelibly with his first masterpiece, Hunger, Steve McQueen rejoins with Michael Fassbender for Shame, a brilliant, marvelous, moving, and provocative film about addictions.

This film is deemed controversial because of its many sex scenes considered vulgar and excessive – apparently they are more shocking than violence the audience is used to see on a daily basis -, but because of the very simple plot those scenes are necessary to tell the story, especially in such a realistic way.

The imprisonment of Bobby Sand, stripped of everything, is contrasted with the freedom of Brandon, who can have everything at once, but that is locked up in a mental prison, constituted by his sexual addiction. Brandon is ashamed of it, of his inability to feel something or really be himself with someone, and seems like he does not enjoy the sex, but it's using it to punish himself for something. And that something might be related to his sister, considering their troubled relationship, and the allusion to a dark secret between them, enhanced by Sissy's last line. 

Steve McQueen has done a wonderful job both directing and writing this film. He decided to concentrate on the thoughts, and emotions of the characters, and that’s what keeps you involved, and gives you the chance to feel and like the characters.

The actors, mostly Fassbender and Mulligan, really have the chance to shine here, expressing sadness, fear, anger, and loneliness just with their faces. Michael Fassbender gives a wonderful performance as Brandon, and makes many of the scenes devastatingly real. Carey Mulligan gives a fantastic, heartbreaking performance as Brandon’s disturbed sister.

It’s a real shame this film didn’t receive much love from the Academy. 

Quotes

Sissy Sullivan: We’re not bad people. We just come from a bad place.

Nymphomaniac: Vol. II (2013)

Genre

Drama

Director 

Lars von Trier

Country 

Denmark | Germany | Belgium | UK | France | Sweden

Cast 

Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgård, Stacy Martin, Shia LaBeouf, Christian Slater, Jamie Bell, Uma Thurman, Willem Dafoe, Mia Goth, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Michaël Pas, Jean-Marc Barr, Udo Kier, Ananya Berg, Morgan Harley, Shanti Roney, Laura Christensen, Caroline Goodall, Kate Ashfield, Tania Carlin, Daniela Lebang, Omar Shargawi, Marcus Jakovljevic, Severin von Hoensbroech

Plot

The continuation of Joe's (Charlotte Gainsbourg) sexually dictated life delves into the darker aspects of her adulthood, obsessions and what led to her being in Seligman's care.

Opinion

If you've read my review of Nymphomaniac: Vol. I, then you know I really enjoyed it, but I can't say quite the same about this one.

Nymphomaniac: Vol. II is still brave and provoking, but more raw and violent - the poetic and philosophical aspects are almost abandoned - and not deep enough. However, Lars von Trier successfully managed to capture how unromantic sex can be.

The film doesn't really have any highlights, the storyline has a complete different turn and, at some points, the film is a little boring. There are some unnecessary scenes - the two Africans arguing while the camera repeatedly dips below the waistline and displays the men's erections - and the ending was really disappointing. Furthermore, there is a thing I didn't understand: why did P, played by Mia Goth, turn on Joe?

And now comes the best part of the film: the performances. Charlotte Gainsbourg - which has a more important role than she had in Vol. I - is astonishing. She delivers a first class performance. Stellan Skarsgård is excellent. Jamie Bell is mesmerizing. Willem Dafoe gives a great performance as always, but his character didn't add anything to the story.

Vol. I is the highlight of the story, so if you think you can't handle both, go with that one. 

Quotes

Joe: The human qualities can be expressed in one word: hypocrisy.

Joe: We elevate those who say right but mean wrong, and mock those who say wrong but mean right.

Rating

6.5/10

Nymphomaniac: Vol. I (2013)

Genre

Drama

Director

Lars von Trier

Country

Denmark | Germany | Belgium | UK | France

Cast

Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stacy Martin, Stellan Skarsgård, Shia LaBeouf, Christian Slater, Jamie Bell, Uma Thurman, Willem Dafoe, Mia Goth, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Connie Nielsen, Michaël Pas, Jean-Marc Barr, Udo Kier, Maja Arsovic, Sofie Kasten, Ananya Berg, James Northcote, Jens Albinus, Felicity Gilbert, Jesper Christensen, Hugo Speer, Cyron Melville, Saskia Reeves, Nicolas Bro, Christian Gade Bjerrum

Plot

Self-diagnosed nymphomaniac Joe (Charlotte Gainsbourg) recounts the erotic story of her adolescence and young-adulthood to the man (Stellan Skarsgård) who saved her after a beating.

Opinion

Many people have defined the film truly repulsive, a waste of time, and nothing more than a porno, due to its high level of pornographic contents. That said, I don't see why films such as Blue Is the Warmest Colour, Don Jon and Shame had a different impact on public opinion.

Nymphomaniac: Vol. I is a brave, provoking and philosophical piece of art. Lars von Trier strips sex of its romance and overloads it with nothing but lust.

The highlight of the film, brilliantly written by Lars von Trier, is the very intense and philosophical dialogue between adult Joe, played by Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Seligman, played by Stellan Skarsgård.

The wonderful and unusual story is told with a superb photography, some provocative scenes, and other meaningful scenes, all accompanied by a music at irregular intervals, ranging from Bach's „Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ“, to Rammstein's „Führe mich“.

Charlotte Gainsbourg gives a shameless and extremely cold performance as Joe. Making her debut as young Joe, Stacy Martin is fantastic.

Quotes

Joe: Perhaps the only difference between me and other people was that I've always demanded more from the sunset; more spectacular colors when the sun hit the horizon. That's perhaps my only sin.

Joe: It's actually the souls of the trees we're seeing in the winter. In summer everything is green and idyllic but in the winter, the branches and the trunks all stand out. Just look at how crooked they all are. The branches have to carry all the leaves to the sunlight. That's one long struggle for survival.