Certain to cause more controversy than any other film this year due to its depiction of rape and graphic violence, Gasper Noe's Irreversible is one of the most disturbing films that I have ever encountered. Like Memento, the film unfolds in reverse chronological order and the first scene (there are twelve in all) sees Marcus (Cassel) and Pierre (Dupontel) in a gay SandM bar looking for a man called 'Le Tenia' (Prestia), who was responsible for the rape of Alex (Bellucci), Marcus' girlfriend. Bent on revenge, Marcus gets involved in a brawl with Le Tenia's companion, which leads to a murder, shown in all its gory detail. From here the film moves backwards, showing exactly how Marcus, Pierre got to the club, with each subsequent scene outlining events which happened earlier, including the rape itself.
It's clear that Noe is interested in the nature of perception, prejudice and destiny (it's only at the very end of the film that we learn what kind of people Alex, Pierre and especially Marcus actually are) but one gets the impression that he's also deeply concerned with pushing the accepted boundaries of film. The spinning, crashing camerawork, strobe lighting and rumbling soundscapes of the first scenes are completely disorientating and may provoke nausea in viewers. If it doesn't, the graphic nature of the film certainly will. Noe is unflinching in his depiction of rape and Bellucci's bravery as an actress is unquestionable, but the brutality of the scene is sickening. As a director, it's clear and utterly valid what he is getting at with Irreversible, but it's up to you whether you have the stomach to stay with him. I'm glad I watched it all, but I never want to see it again.
