Intimacy has already gained a measure of notoriety due to the graphic nature of the sex scenes between the two main characters, played by Mark Rylance and Kerry Fox. They are a couple of lovers who meet every Wednesday at his flat for emotionless, nameless sex How they first hooked up is never explained but slowly, Rylance's character, Jay is obsessing about Fox's Claire and begins following her to see if she has a life beyond their weekly meetings. Arguably the first time that full sex has been shown in a film by non-porn actors, Intimacy will provoke extreme reaction, but it's an extreme film. Slow moving and somber there's little meaningful thrust to the narrative, and one gets the feeling that Chereau is trying desperately to find something profound to say about relationships yet can't see beyond the physical aspects. A shame because the actors are stunning.
