Gaspar Noé names the influences behind ‘Irréversible’
There have always been cinematic provocateurs, whether that be Kenneth Anger or John Waters, whose work challenges audiences by bending societal norms and presenting an alternative mode of living. Through explorations of taboo topics and their unconventional stylistic and formal methods of doing so, these enfant terribles helped to change cinema. Gaspar Noé emerged in the late 1990s with a similar sensibility. He wasn’t afraid to shock, offend or anger viewers with his intense movies, inspired by a lineage of controversial filmmakers who came before him.
His debut feature, I Stand Alone, was brutal in its depiction of incest and violence, but it was well-received regardless. However, with his next film, Noé found himself thrust into the spotlight as one of cinema’s newest and most divisive filmmakers. Irréversible, which debuted in 2002, was not for the faint of heart. Told in reverse, the movie follows two men, Vincent Cassel’s Marcus and Albert Dupontel’s Pierre, as they seek revenge on the violent rapist who left Monica Bellucci’s Alex in critical condition.
It’s one of the most disorientating, anxiety-inducing films out there, with a pounding electronic score from Thomas Bangalter, flashing lights, and fluid camera movements that constantly rotate and move. Most controversially, the film contains a graphic ten-minute-long rape scene that many people found too harrowing to sit through.
The ambitious film was inspired by many pre-existing movies, many of which, unsurprisingly, are highly controversial in their own right. Talking to BBC, he revealed, “I told Vincent I wanted to do a film like In the Realm of the Senses.” The classic Japanese film, released in 1976, still shocks audiences today with its unsimulated sex scenes, bizarre erotic acts (including one unforgettable moment with an egg) and its brutal end. Directed by Nagisa Ōshima, the film’s unashamedly bold approach to weaving sex and violence certainly bears influence on Irréversible, where the two are intrinsically interlinked.
Another iconic movie that inspired Noé, where sex and violence are woven together, is A Clockwork Orange. Stanley Kubrick’s interpretation of Anthony Burgess’ novel was so shocking at the time of its release in 1971 that Kubrick even pulled the movie from British distribution due to copycat crimes. The film contains many distressing sequences, such as rape and murder scenes, which don’t hold back from being graphic. The film’s meditation on humanity’s natural impulse for violence certainly influenced Noé’s approach to the subject.
The innovative use of form, such as long, uninterrupted takes, takes cues from I Am Cuba, the revolutionary ‘60s film that only found acclaim years after its release. Known for its striking visuals, Noé also ensured that his film was as radical with form as it was with content.
Naturally, Noé looked to one of the most unforgettable and brutal rape scenes in cinema history for inspiration, too. The ‘squeal like a pig’ rape scene from Deliverance informed the infamous Irréversible sequence. It’s a dehumanising and disgusting scene where Bobby, all covered in dirt, is abused by hillbillies.
Finally, another controversial movie featuring a plethora of violent scenes, including sexual abuse: Straw Dogs by Sam Peckinpah. Led by Dustin Hoffman, the film shocked many with its extended rape scene, although Noé clearly found inspiration in the heinous sequence for his own film. The director couldn’t understand why Peckinpah’s film was banned for some time, stating, “It’s as if the British government have contempt for their citizens.”
The movies that inspired Irréversible:
- In the Realm of the Senses (Nagisa Ōshima, 1976)
- A Clockwork Orange (Stanley Kubrick, 1971)
- I Am Cuba (Mikhail Kalatozov, 1964)
- Deliverance (John Boorman, 1972)
- Straw Dogs (Sam Peckinpah, 1971)
