Irréversible (2002)

Director:

Gaspar Noé

Writer:

Gaspar Noé (writer)

Release Date:

22 May 2002 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Le temps détruit tout - Time destroys everything

Plot:

Events over the course of one traumatic night in Paris unfold in reverse-chronological order as the...

Plot Keywords:

Masochism | Shower | Car | Prostitution | Evil Man

Awards:

2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Monica Bellucci	...	Alex
Vincent Cassel	...	Marcus
Albert Dupontel	...	Pierre
Jo Prestia	...	Le Tenia
Philippe Nahon	...	Philippe
Stéphane Drouot	...	Stéphane
Jean-Louis Costes	...	Fistman
Michel Gondoin	...	Mick
Mourad Khima	...	Mourad
Hellal	...	Layde
Nato	...	Commissaire
Fesche	...	Chauffeur Taxi
Jara-Millo	...	Concha
Le Quellec	...	Inspecteur
Giami	...	Isabelle
Adoum	...	Fatima
Foulaux	...	Janice
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stéphane Derdérian	...	Client du Rectum (uncredited)
Christophe Lemaire	...	Le danseur avec la chemise hawaïenne (uncredited)
Eric Moreau	...	Extra (uncredited)
Gaspar Noé	...	Client du Rectum (uncredited)
Titof	...	Le mec sur le lit à la fête (uncredited)

Directed by
Gaspar Noé

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Gaspar Noé		writer

Produced by
Vincent Cassel	....	co-producer
Brahim Chioua	....	co-producer
Emmanuel Gateau	....	consulting producer
Richard Grandpierre	....	co-producer
Gaspar Noé	....	co-producer
Christophe Rossignon	....	producer

Original Music by
Thomas Bangalter

Cinematography by
Benoît Debie
Gaspar Noé

Film Editing by
Gaspar Noé

Casting by
Jacques Grant

Production Design by
Alain Juteau

Costume Design by
Laure Culkovic

Makeup Department
Pierre Chavialle	....	hair stylist
Jean-Christophe Spadaccini	....	special makeup effects artist
Ghislaine Tortereau	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Serge Catoire	....	production manager
Eric Chabot	....	unit manager
Virginia Lombardo	....	unit manager
Ève Machuel	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stéphane Derdérian	....	first assistant director
Olivier Théry-Lapiney	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
Jean-Luc Audy	....	sound
Xavier Bonneyrat	....	assistant sound editor
Marc Boucrot	....	sound
Olivier Busson	....	boom operator
Valérie Deloof	....	sound
Cyril Holtz	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Rodolphe Chabrier	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Xavier Fourmond	....	digital compositor
Stéphanie Machuret	....	senior digital compositor: Mac Guff Ligne
Christophe Richard	....	digital artist

Camera and Electrical Department
David Campbell	....	crane operator: Super Technocrane
Eric Catelan	....	steadicam operator
Benoît Debie	....	lighting designer
Denis Gaubert	....	assistant camera: second unit
Antoine Rabaté	....	assistant camera
Sébastien Saadoun	....	assistant camera
Mathieu Szpiro	....	gaffer

Other crew
Marielle Duigou	....	production assistant
Virginia Lombardo	....	assistant location manager

Production Companies

• 120 Films
• Eskwad
• Grandpierre
• Les Cinémas de la Zone
• Nord-Ouest Productions
• Rossignon
• Studio Canal

Distributors

• Mars Distribution (2002) (France) (theatrical)
• Accent Film Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• Accent Film Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Alamode Film (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Communications (Canada)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (VHS)
• BIM Distribuzione (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Comstock
• Distribution Company (2003) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Europa Filmes (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Frenetic Films (2002) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Legend Films International (2003) (Germany) (all media) (rights)
• Lions Gate Films (2003) (USA) (subtitled)
• Metro Tartan Distribution Ltd. (2003) (UK) (theatrical)
• Muse Productions (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (200?) (Netherlands) (video)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2004) (Germany) (video)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Switzerland) (DVD)

Runtime:

97 min | Canada:99 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

France

Language:

French | Spanish | Italian | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:18 | Canada:R (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Peru:18 | Canada:18+ (Québec) | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/18 | Brazil:18 | Australia:R | Austria:18 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-18 | France:-16 | Germany:18 | Hong Kong:III (cut) | Ireland:18 | Italy:VM18 | Japan:R-18 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:(Banned) (video rating) | New Zealand:R18 (film festival rating) | Norway:18 | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) | South Korea:18 (cut) | Spain:18 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Buttes Chaumont, Paris 19, Paris, France

Company:

120 Films

Trivia:

Anywhere from five to fifteen takes of each ten to twenty minute sequence were made, some as short as three minutes and some as long as fifteen. Some takes were assembled using invisible edits disguised with digital post-processing.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Alex walks down the stairs of the tunnel, the knot of her dress around her neck and her hairstyle change after the camera shows the sign "passage" and comes back to Alex's back.

Quotes:

Marcus: Who are you?
Mourad: Who am I? Until proof of the contrary, I can be your best friend.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Last Exit (2003)

Soundtrack:

Symphony No 7 in A Major op. 92

Cinematic Torture

If movies are suppose to effect the viewer then this movie is king of the hill. From the dis-orienting camera moves that open the film through the violence in the gay bar, the seemingly never ending rape and the films unraveling of the days events in a backwards march I have yet to meet anyone who has not been deeply effected by this movie - if they were brave enough or stupid enough to watch it. (I'm still trying to figure out a local Best Buy displaying a large number of DVD's as if it was the latest Adam Sandler movie)

It is not an easy movie to watch but as an examination of what people are capable and how violence can come from nowhere and from the unexpected its a masterpiece. The backward structure takes what is essentially a dull revenge story and turns it on its ear as we are forced to really examine how things get out of hand very quickly and what people will do when pushed to the limit.

If you want a challenge to your psyche and can brave simply some of the most vicious and nasty screen violence (yes its graphic but much is also implied) then see this movie - preferably with out distraction. But be warned, even if you think you know what this movie is about and what your limits in screen violence is, you still won't be prepared for what a mental hot foot this film is.