Intimacy (2001)

Director:

Patrice Chéreau

Writers:

Hanif Kureishi (stories)
Anne-Louise Trividic (written by) ...

Release Date:

28 March 2001 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Adult

Tagline:

Every Wednesday, She meets once a week.

Plot:

A failed London musician meets once a week with a woman for a series of intense sexual encounters to get away from the realities of life. But when he begins inquiring about her, it puts their relationship at risk.

Plot Keywords:

Musician | Sexual Encounter | Bartender | Pub | Sex

Awards:

6 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Mark Rylance	...	Jay
Kerry Fox	...	Claire
Susannah Harker	...	Susan, Jay's wife
Alastair Galbraith	...	Victor
Philippe Calvario	...	Ian
Timothy Spall	...	Andy
Marianne Faithfull	...	Betty
Fraser Ayres	...	Dave
Michael Fitzgerald	...	Bar owner
Robert Addie	...	Bar owner
Deborah McLaren	...	Student at the drama school
Rebecca R. Palmer	...	Pam, girl in squat (as Rebecca Palmer)
Greg Sheffield	...	Jay's son
Vinnie Hunter	...	Jay's son (as Vinni Hunter)
Joe Prospero	...	Luke, Claire's son

Also Known As:

Intimidad (Spain)
Intimité (France)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content and language.

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

France | UK | Germany | Spain

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:Unrated | Iceland:16 | Hungary:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:R | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Poland:18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R (heavily cut) | Chile:14 | Singapore:R(A) (heavily cut) | Australia:MA (cable rating)

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Company:

Téléma

Trivia:

The first mainstream English language film with unsimulated sex scenes to be passed uncut in Great Britain.

Quotes:

Ian: You know when you're with someone there's only a very short time when you can really give each other things for free... with neither of you having to ask. Because later on all you do is make demands of each other. Perhaps the only difference between her and all the rest is that she's asking you for nothing.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Man yan (2004)

Soundtrack:

Let It All Hang Out

Harrowing but well worth watching

I just saw this film in Paris, mainly attracted to it by Mark Rylance and Kerry Fox, who are consistently terrific actors.

Looking at the other comments issued so far, I guess that most of the attention given the film will be on the graphic sex scenes, but in general they contributed well to the overall story of lost people looking for some connection in their lives, which in a city like London (as it is filmed) seems impossible. Still, I have no idea how a sexually repressed country like Britain will pass this film without cuts. It will be intriguing to see the infantile controversy that this film will ignite in the media when it plays here.

I wouldn't recommend this film for those who are used to fast-paced stories and quick-fire dialogue. I never found the pacing too slow but you have to watch everything carefully to feel the full impact of the movie.

If you have ever had a passionate but ultimately painful affair, this film will throw up all those feelings that you thought you had forgotten.