One night. An unforgivable act. A tale told in reverse. Often regarded as a masterpiece but also one of the most infamous films in cinema history that is despised in many circles for its gratuitous sexual violence, Gaspar Noé’s (“Climax,” “Enter the Void,” “Vortex”) slammed audiences with “Irréversible” in 2002. It’s a film that basically is told in reverse order depicting the events of a tragic night in Paris as two men attempt to avenge the brutal rape and beating of the woman they love.
In 2019, French filmmaker and enfante terrible released “Irreversible: Straight Cut,” which was the same film, and ‘re-reversed’ it so that it now plays in chronological order. And for one last update, the film has been restored and is finally coming to the U.S. with a brand new director’s cut of the film that puts the notorious revenge tale in chronological order.
“Irreversible” and its ‘Straight Cut’ counterpart stars Monica Belucci, Vincent Cassel, Albert Dupontel, Jo Prestia, and Philippe Nahon. The film features an incredible score by Thomas Bangalter of Daft Punk and brutal but beautiful cinematography by Benoît Debie.
Courtesy of distributor Altered Innocence, Gaspar Noé’s infamous director’s cut, “Irréversible: Straight Cut,” will open theatrically on February 10th in Los Angeles (Landmark’s Nuart Theatre), New York City (IFC Center), and additional cities throughout the U.S.
Courtesy of distributor Altered Innocence, Gaspar Noé’s scandalous director’s cut, entitled “Irréversible: Straight Cut,” will open theatrically on February 10th in Los Angeles (Landmark’s Nuart Theatre), New York City (IFC Center), A restored version of the original film will play concurrently in select cities, and makes for an interesting double feature.
Nearly 20 years after the original film’s release, Noé world “Irréversible: Straight Cut” at the Venice Film Festival in 2019, and this release marks the U.S. theatrical premiere of his radically revised director’s cut.
“Until now, “Irreversible” was a deliberate puzzle,” Noé said of his innovative new cut. “Presented clockwise, everything is clear and also darker, making it easier to identify with the characters and understand the tale unfolding. The same story is no longer a tragedy; this time, it is a drama that brings out the psychology of the characters and the mechanisms that lead some of them to a murderous barbarity. While “Irreversible” has sometimes been wrongly perceived as a ‘rape and revenge’ B movie, here the deadly outcome is all the more depressing. “Irreversible: Straight Cut” can be more easily seen as a fable on the contagion of barbarity and the command of the reptilian brain over the rational mind. This new cut is another film. You will see. Time reveals all things.”
Not for the faint of heart, easily offended, or anyone with photosensitivity, Noé’s dark film is distressing, and now, if you want to see it again, you can in reverse and ‘re-reversed’ versions. Watch the new trailer below.