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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