Rape

[willowfinn]

This scene from Gaspar Noé's disturbing and controversial 2002 film Irréversible is VERY NOT SAFE FOR WORK, so mind what you're clicking on, all you cubicle mice. It features the brutal beating and anal rape at knife point of Monica Bellucci's character in a scary red-lit underpass -- the rape itself is filmed in one static nine minute long shot,

Comments

[radio_redhead]

Or better yet, don't watch it at all. Seriously. It's awful, and it's an awful movie. scar_let urged me not to see it, and I did, and he was absolutely right and I should have listened to him. Total waste of time.

There's really no reason for a nine-minute protracted rape scene unless you just want to shock and cause controversy. I'd rather watch I Spit On Your Grave for 24 hours than ever see Irreversible again.

[willowfinn]

I think I'm gonna watch the film, though. My impression is that the subject matter is deliberately shocking and controversial. I hear and understand everything you've said, and all the rest of the warnings I've read about it...and I still want to see it. Obviously I'll be going in with my eyes open, prepared for it to disturb me. Its my choice whether I'm going to push my personal comfort envelope or not. And when I am inevitably disturbed by what I see, it'll be no one's fault but my own, because I've been warned. Sometimes its ok be disturbed like that...to me, on some level, it almost feels good, peeling back the layers and poking at my discomfort. I didn't write this post to complain, as though it were someone else's fault that I've been sickened by the sight. I only wanted to share the impression it made on me.

So, I'm sorry that it upset you -- that wasn't the idea.

[radio_redhead]

Not upset at all. I wasn't particularly appalled or horrified by the film, just sort of eyerollingly annoyed. Hey, I'm all for exploitation, but I like mine with a large dose of camp. It's just a gimmicky pointless film IMHO, but obviously everyone has got to figure that out for themselves.

[peregrin8]

It's just a gimmicky pointless film IMHO, but obviously everyone has got to figure that out for themselves.

Not everyone; I am happy to take your word for it! Thank you for falling on yet another cinematic grenade.

[rachtrumpetess]

That nearly brought me to tears. That is the most awful thing I've ever seen. And to think that this (and worse) has happened to so many women...it's really sickening.

[peregrin8]

Why would you post something you found so unpleasant? It's like when somebody goes "OMG this food is so disgusting--here taste it!"

I was having the same thought!

[radio_redhead]

Yep, me too.

[willowfinn]

I'm repeating what I said to punkymeadows:

Yeah, I found it very disturbing, but sometimes that's alright. And I know that I'm not the only person who feels that way. Luckily, you get to choose to NOT watch it...but those who read my Livejournal who might feel the same as me can choose to watch it. That's why I put it here -- to share the impression it made on me.

[empresscao]

Uuf, I haven't seen Irreversible, but I've heard about it. My friend had to watch it because we were considering Monica Bellucci for a part in a movie. She said the French sex club scene is even more uncomfortable and disgusting than the rape scene and she still has nightmares about it. Apparently the end of the movie is the happiest part, so you're supposed to end on Monica's character and her husband (also played by real life husband) having a grand old time at the park.

After having worked on and seen Monster several times (featuring yet another rape scene) I'll skip Irreversible.