Irreversible (2002) Irréversible (original title)

Director:

Gaspar Noé

Writer:

Gaspar Noé

Release Date:

22 May 2002 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | 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 beautiful Alex is brutally raped and beaten by a stranger in the underpass.

Plot Keywords:

Underpass | Night | Revenge | Rapist | Breaking An Arm

Awards:

2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Monica Bellucci	...	Alex (as Bellucci)
Vincent Cassel	...	Marcus (as Cassel)
Albert Dupontel	...	Pierre (as Dupontel)
Jo Prestia	...	Le Tenia (as Prestia)
Philippe Nahon	...	L'homme (as Nahon)
Stéphane Drouot	...	Stéphane (as Drouot)
Jean-Louis Costes	...	Fistman (as Costes)
Michel Gondoin	...	Mick (as Gondouin)
Mourad Khima	...	Mourad (as Khima)
Hellal	...	Layde
Nato	...	Commissaire
Fesche	...	Chauffeur Taxi
Jara-Millo	...	Concha (as Jaramillo)
Le Quellec	...	Inspecteur
Giami	...	Isabelle
Fatima Adoum	...	Fatima (as Adoum)
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

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 production 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

Art Department
Sandra Castello	....	assistant art director
Pascal Gras	....	carpenter
Nicolas Javel	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Jean-Luc Audy	....	sound
Xavier Bonneyrat	....	assistant sound editor
Marc Boucrot	....	sound
Olivier Busson	....	boom operator
Vincent Cosson	....	sound mix technician
Valérie Deloof	....	sound
Cyril Holtz	....	sound re-recording mixer
François Lepeuple	....	foley artist

Visual Effects by
Rodolphe Chabrier	....	visual effects supervisor
Xavier Fourmond	....	digital compositor
Stéphanie Machuret	....	senior digital compositor: Mac Guff Ligne
Christophe Richard	....	digital artist
Isabelle Roussel	....	digital compositor
Eric Vidal	....	compositor

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

Casting Department
Omri Ben Canaan	....	extras casting

Other crew
Peter Block	....	acquisitions executive
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) (theatrical)
• Alamode Film (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Communications (2002) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Atlantis Entertainment (2003) (Czechoslovakia) (theatrical)
• BIM Distribuzione (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Comstock (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2003) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (2002) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Lions Gate Films (2003) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Metro Tartan Distribution Ltd. (2003) (UK) (theatrical)
• Muse Productions (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Accent Film Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (VHS)
• Europa Filmes (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Legend Films International (2003) (Germany) (all media) (rights)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Tartan Video (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2004) (Germany) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Switzerland) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Irréversible" - France (original title)
"Alex" - Japan (English title)

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:

Portugal:M/18 | Peru:18 | Argentina:18 | Brazil:18 | Iceland:16 | Canada:18+ (Québec) | Canada:R (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Sweden:18 (video rating) | Sweden:15 | Mexico:C | USA:Not Rated | Malaysia:(Banned) | 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:R18 (with restriction) | Norway:18 | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Buttes Chaumont, Paris 19, Paris, France

Company:

120 Films

Trivia:

The rapist's genitals, seen after the rape, were added digitally.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the scene where Monica is in the bed with her boyfriend and they get up to dance, the whole film crew is mirrored on the glass of the window.

Quotes:

[First lines]
Philippe:You want me to say it? Time destroys everything.

Movie Connections:

References Blue Velvet (1986)

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.