Violence Begets Violence, A Look at Irreversible

This Review refers to sexual violence and rape. Viewer discretion is advised. 

Irreversible was, and still is, not for everyone. And rightfully so. It is a hard film to watch. There was a reason why film critic Roger Ebert said, “Irreversible is a movie so violent and cruel that most people will find it unwatchable.” - Ebert, Roger. “Irreversible Movie Review & Film Summary (2003): Roger Ebert.” Movie Review & Film Summary (2003) | Roger Ebert, www.rogerebert.com/reviews/irreversible-2003. 

“Irreversible, 2002.” Irreversible movie review & film summary (2003) | Roger Ebert

The film was released in the year 2002. It had gained moderate recognition through film festivals, winning the Bronze Horse Award at the Stockholm International Film Festival, but it left many leaving the theater enraged and disgusted, due to the high level of graphic violence. In Newsweek in 2003, film critic David Ansen wrote: “If outraged viewers (mostly women) at the Cannes Film Festival are any indication, this will be the most walked-out-of-movie of 2003.” - Ansen, David. “How Far Is Too Far?”, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2010, www.newsweek.com/how-far-too-far-132821.

One would have to take a serious amount of thought to let a film like this sink in when the violence becomes extreme, and those who don’t should rightfully walk away. With the content heavy, it is also an arthouse film, breaking many trends from most films. It follows a trend of exploitative films with a statement about society, like Salo, or The 120 Days of Sodom by Pier Paolo Pasolini, or even The Last House on the Left, by Wes Craven.

From a technical and artistic standpoint, the film doesn’t work well for many. The color styles are muddy, the camera movement is dizzy, and the sound design is nauseating. This is noted in many of Gaspar Noe’s works since he uses specific, nauseating techniques that will leave many uncomfortable no matter what. Are all that he does simply to provoke and sicken? Or does he use it for something interesting? Both, perhaps. He can be viewed as nothing more than a provocateur with challenging films. The whole experience in Irreversible is uncomfortable to begin with.

Over the years there were two takeaways. One, that yes, it is incredibly violent. But others have looked at it admirably as an art piece. Yes, it is extreme, but the film gives more thought to the consequences surrounding the violence. 

The story begins with two men named Marcus and Pierre, played by Vincent Cassel and Albert Dupontel. Marcus is a lover, while Pierre is an ex-lover to Alex, played by Monica Belluci. Rather than the cause leading to effect it is the effect, leading to the cause. The story is told backward, similar to the structure of Chris Nolan’s Memento. Marcus and Pierre go to a BDSM club late at night, looking for someone named Le Tenia. We don’t know why at first, but it ends with such ruthlessness. Whatever Le Tenia did pushed them to the limit. It left him knocked in the face with a fire extinguisher by Pierre, more than once until his face was smashed in completely. A horrifying act, to say the least. It was unfortunately not until later in the film that we realized they got the wrong man. Noe’s decision with the narrative structure gives more time to think of what could have led such decent men to become animals. 

Alex’s rape by Le Tenia had no cuts, and the camera never moved. It held on, bearing witness to a crime that was way too extreme due to its length. A truly horrible, tragic scene. It culminates into the worst of humanity shown, making it all the more hateful. We want it to cut away and be completely removed from such horror but Noe held onto it. “Because the subject of the movie was a rape,” he said,  “I said that it has to be as powerful as it can be, to be disgusting enough, to be useful.” - Macnab, G. (2002) ‘The rape had to be disgusting to be useful’, The Guardian.

Extreme violence doesn’t just implicate what it does to the victim but those around it. An unfortunate notion, that even the most vile acts of violence can lead to acts of aggression no matter how moral it was when it comes to revenge. It can even affect someone like-minded like Pierre, who tried to calm Marcus from doing anything rational, but he too was affected as much as Marcus was, even without knowing that he could be capable of it. Violence is a natural act, but the moral died at the beginning when they caught the wrong man, putting them on the same level as Alex’s attacker. Succumbing to these aggressive behaviors can only lead to hell rather than the other way around.

While we have seen the cause of revenge the film does not stop there. It keeps going. We go past the incident, going back even further. Noe wanted to go beyond the violence, to see other effects that have been put into play. 

“Alex dancing at the party.”  “Irreversible” Analysis: A Condemnation of Violence Against Women and its Depiction in Film – In Their Own League.

There were implications through visuals and dialogue that beg the question, was it inevitable? Alex is dressed seductively at a party with many others, including Marcus and Pierre. While she is headstrong, independent, and honest, it is within human nature for women to want to be attractive. It isn’t always wise to be dressed in a certain way, especially in a highly sexual manner. Because of the story's reverse order, we are taken into looking at other essential factors in what Pierre and Marcus could have done rather than we, the audience, put it on Alex for simply being the victim. Mistakes were made from all sides. If Pierre was more convincing, taking her home rather than leaving her be, perhaps things would have changed. In regards to Marcus in his male role, he should have been there for her, rather than succumbing to drinking and taking drugs after his horrible argument with Alex at the party. “It is their diverse weaknesses,” said Dmitri Ng, “Where Irréversible seeks to at least establish itself as critical of men. They disregard each other with implications of pride and social position, and for what? It would seem that men today are guilty of this problem too.” Ng, Dimitri. “Irreversible (2002).” Medium, Medium, 1 Dec. 2020.

“Marcus, Pierre, and Alex on the train.” [Film Review] Irreversible (2002) (Straight Cut) — Ghouls Magazine

Relationship dynamics were explored. We transition to when all three are sitting together, talking on the train. It shows a subtle yet meaningful take on the perspective of relationships and sex. Alex states that Pierre was too focused on satisfying her rather than on himself. If he was more selfish perhaps their relationship would have lasted longer. It’s more disturbing knowing what will happen since it foreshadows the rape. It blurs the idea of consent. It is without consent that violence can go wrong and that all men seem to be capable of such things. “Before being humans with morals,” said Noe, “people are mostly animals, fighting for domination and survival.” 

The film strays further from the revenge story, moving towards what becomes a completely different tone later. The colors change, looking all the more brighter. It becomes less nauseating with camera movement and sound. It leads to what were happier days when Alex told Marcus that she was pregnant with a child. It seems as if the audience, through the eyes of the characters, looks back and wishes for better days to come back because of how traumatic things have turned. Seeing Alex lying down with her book in hand, seeing how everything looks bright heavily contrasts what has happened, making it all the more uncomfortable before the camera pulls back, cycling round and round in a strobe effect, with a quote reading: “Le Temps Detruit Tout,” which means, “Time Destroys Everything. It can only be a matter of time before what is done, cannot be undone, and the technical and artistic styles used including the structure, simply enhanced that notion. According to a passage from Films, Deconstructed: “Tragedy doesn’t only happen during bad weather or bad times. It can happen on gorgeous days too.” - “Irreversible (2002) Might Be the Most Misunderstood Film of All Time - Page 3 - Films, Deconstructed.” Filmsdeconstructed.com

“Monica Bellucci in Irreversible (2002).” Irreversible (2002) (imdb.com)

Yes, incredibly grim, and one that is hard to recommend, but rarely is there a film trying to give an interesting statement about violence. Provocative, yes, and the violence was too honest. It stands out though, by never glorifying what is occurring on screen. “But it is unflinchingly honest, said Ebert, “about the crime of rape. It does not exploit. It does not pander. It has been said that no matter what it pretends, pornography argues for what it shows. “Irreversible” is not pornography.  

So many films, especially American torture porn films, seem to use violence and sex to give a temporary, reactive response, rather than use it for something else entirely. Violence can be used in so many ways, and it is easy to fall into the pit of using it for entertainment, no matter how graphic, and shocking it is.