Diary of a Nymphomaniac (2008)

After watching Lars von Trier's Nymphomaniac years ago, a movie website (I don't recall which one) suggested I'd watch Diary of a Nymphomaniac (Diario de una ninfómana). And here am I, almost 3 years later, writing about a movie that was nothing like von Trier's movie.

Val (Belén Fabra) is a young woman with an insatiable sexual appetite meaning she has sex with every single man she meets and she just can't get enough. Her whole world revolves around sex basically. Then one day she meets Jaime (Leonardo Sbaraglia) and she falls in love. The relationship is far from being perfect and it eventually leads Val on a very dark path. 

It does sound interesting, right? I mean, there are all the elements to make a thought-provoking film about relationships, love and sex showing how hard it is for a woman to be a sex addict. Instead, this is a bland and boring film with no personality. Initially, it goes absolutely nowhere, and when it finally picks up and decides what it wants to be, the story has already been ruined by the first half an hour or so to engage you or make you care about the character. 

Also, there isn't much of a story here, there's only a poor excuse to put a lot of sex scenes together in the same movie. Moreover, they are unwatchable, not because they make you uncomfortable, but because they are dull and lifeless. And there's a lot of them which means a huge waste of time. If I only had the bright idea to fast-forward them, I would have saved some time.

Megavision

If Diary of a Nymphomaniac lacks personality/erotic charge (is that even a thing?) part of the blame is on Belén Fabra. She hasn't the typical sensual body, she looks like a boy, to be honest, but that's not the problem. Charlotte Gainsbourg has the same physique and yet she was great in Nymphoniac. The problem is that she isn't sexy, she lacks that something required by this kind of role. Her overall performance isn't that bad though.

Another problem with this is the supporting cast. Nobody here is able to provide not good and not even decent support. Leonardo Sbaraglia's performance as Jaime is laughable Geraldine Chaplin's as Val's grandmother is weak, to say the least.

I haven't read Valerie Tasso's novel upon which this film is based on but I do really hope it's better than this movie. I'd feel very sorry for Tasso otherwise since this is pretty much an account of her life. 

Nymphomaniac: Vol. II (2013)

Genre

Drama

Director 

Lars von Trier

Country 

Denmark | Germany | Belgium | UK | France | Sweden

Cast 

Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgård, Stacy Martin, Shia LaBeouf, Christian Slater, Jamie Bell, Uma Thurman, Willem Dafoe, Mia Goth, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Michaël Pas, Jean-Marc Barr, Udo Kier, Ananya Berg, Morgan Harley, Shanti Roney, Laura Christensen, Caroline Goodall, Kate Ashfield, Tania Carlin, Daniela Lebang, Omar Shargawi, Marcus Jakovljevic, Severin von Hoensbroech

Plot

The continuation of Joe's (Charlotte Gainsbourg) sexually dictated life delves into the darker aspects of her adulthood, obsessions and what led to her being in Seligman's care.

Opinion

If you've read my review of Nymphomaniac: Vol. I, then you know I really enjoyed it, but I can't say quite the same about this one.

Nymphomaniac: Vol. II is still brave and provoking, but more raw and violent - the poetic and philosophical aspects are almost abandoned - and not deep enough. However, Lars von Trier successfully managed to capture how unromantic sex can be.

The film doesn't really have any highlights, the storyline has a complete different turn and, at some points, the film is a little boring. There are some unnecessary scenes - the two Africans arguing while the camera repeatedly dips below the waistline and displays the men's erections - and the ending was really disappointing. Furthermore, there is a thing I didn't understand: why did P, played by Mia Goth, turn on Joe?

And now comes the best part of the film: the performances. Charlotte Gainsbourg - which has a more important role than she had in Vol. I - is astonishing. She delivers a first class performance. Stellan Skarsgård is excellent. Jamie Bell is mesmerizing. Willem Dafoe gives a great performance as always, but his character didn't add anything to the story.

Vol. I is the highlight of the story, so if you think you can't handle both, go with that one. 

Quotes

Joe: The human qualities can be expressed in one word: hypocrisy.

Joe: We elevate those who say right but mean wrong, and mock those who say wrong but mean right.

Rating

6.5/10

Nymphomaniac: Vol. I (2013)

Genre

Drama

Director

Lars von Trier

Country

Denmark | Germany | Belgium | UK | France

Cast

Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stacy Martin, Stellan Skarsgård, Shia LaBeouf, Christian Slater, Jamie Bell, Uma Thurman, Willem Dafoe, Mia Goth, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Connie Nielsen, Michaël Pas, Jean-Marc Barr, Udo Kier, Maja Arsovic, Sofie Kasten, Ananya Berg, James Northcote, Jens Albinus, Felicity Gilbert, Jesper Christensen, Hugo Speer, Cyron Melville, Saskia Reeves, Nicolas Bro, Christian Gade Bjerrum

Plot

Self-diagnosed nymphomaniac Joe (Charlotte Gainsbourg) recounts the erotic story of her adolescence and young-adulthood to the man (Stellan Skarsgård) who saved her after a beating.

Opinion

Many people have defined the film truly repulsive, a waste of time, and nothing more than a porno, due to its high level of pornographic contents. That said, I don't see why films such as Blue Is the Warmest Colour, Don Jon and Shame had a different impact on public opinion.

Nymphomaniac: Vol. I is a brave, provoking and philosophical piece of art. Lars von Trier strips sex of its romance and overloads it with nothing but lust.

The highlight of the film, brilliantly written by Lars von Trier, is the very intense and philosophical dialogue between adult Joe, played by Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Seligman, played by Stellan Skarsgård.

The wonderful and unusual story is told with a superb photography, some provocative scenes, and other meaningful scenes, all accompanied by a music at irregular intervals, ranging from Bach's „Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ“, to Rammstein's „Führe mich“.

Charlotte Gainsbourg gives a shameless and extremely cold performance as Joe. Making her debut as young Joe, Stacy Martin is fantastic.

Quotes

Joe: Perhaps the only difference between me and other people was that I've always demanded more from the sunset; more spectacular colors when the sun hit the horizon. That's perhaps my only sin.

Joe: It's actually the souls of the trees we're seeing in the winter. In summer everything is green and idyllic but in the winter, the branches and the trunks all stand out. Just look at how crooked they all are. The branches have to carry all the leaves to the sunlight. That's one long struggle for survival.