Nymphomaniac: Vol. II (2013)

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

Director:

Lars von Trier

Writer:

Lars von Trier

Stars:

Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgård, Willem Dafoe

14 wins & 28 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charlotte Gainsbourg	...	Joe
Stellan Skarsgård	...	Seligman
Stacy Martin	...	Young Joe
Shia LaBeouf	...	Jerôme
Christian Slater	...	Joe's Father
Jamie Bell	...	K
Uma Thurman	...	Mrs. H
Willem Dafoe	...	L
Mia Goth	...	P
Sophie Kennedy Clark	...	B
Michael Pas	...	Old Jerôme
Jean-Marc Barr	...	Debtor Gentleman
Udo Kier	...	The Waiter
Ananya Berg	...	Joe - 10 Years
Morgan Hartley	...	B - 12 Years

Storyline

Joe continues to tell to Seligman the story of her life. Joe lives with Jerôme and their son Marcel and out of the blue, she loses sexual sensation in intercourse. Joe seeks kinky sex, perversions and sadomasochism expecting to retrieve her sex drive. Jerôme leaves home with Marcel and gives his son to a foster house for adoption. Then Joe is sent to therapy by her gynecologist but she does not admit that she is addicted to sex. Meanwhile Seligman tells Joe that he is virgin and helps her to understand her actions. Joe believes that Seligman is her friend, but is he?

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Plot Keywords:

explicit sex | nymphomania | double penetration | whip | nymphomaniac | 

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Taglines:

Forget About Love

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Whether it is coincidental or a sly touch on Lars von Trier's part, the three works Seligman references as his literary encounter with the erotic are the three films that make up Pier Paolo Pasolini's "Trilogy of Life": The Decameron (1971), The Canterbury Tales (1972) and Arabian Nights (1974). The "Trilogy of Life" was noteworthy for its attention to sexuality.

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Goofs

During the chapter The Mirror, after Seligman explains that the top of the diamond is called a mirror in some languages and Joe mentions he has a mirror on the wall, you can clearly see the camera and crew members reflected in it. You even see the camera move as it pans right.

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Quotes

Joe: The human qualities can be expressed in one word: Hypocrisy. We elevate those who say "right" but mean "wrong" and mock those who say "wrong" but mean "right." By the way, I can assure you that women who claim that negros don't turn them on, they're lying.

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Crazy Credits

Near the very end of the credits there is this disclaimer: "None of the professional actors had penetrative sexual intercourse and all such scenes were performed by body doubles."

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Alternate Versions

The director's cut adds roughly 57 minutes of footage, expanding some of the subplots.

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Connections

Featured in Film 2018: Episode dated 19 February 2014 (2014)

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Soundtracks

Requiem In D Minor: Requiem Aeternam
Performed by Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus
Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Courtesy of Naxos Music

User Reviews

Bitter, sad, filled with dishonorable and dirty animal desire, but fun and mind challenging at the same time.

The second half of Von Trier's latest is not as solid as the first. And, the blasphemous theme is lost in some sort of unsteady rebellion against societal / cultural oppression of women. This aspect is unsteady because if feels like there is also a certain level of sadistic eroticism where the woman is firmly position as the object of cruelty.

All together, it's a really smart, honest and daring look at sexual addiction and dysfunction... then there is this off the rails third act which is completely unnecessary and ridiculous.

While it meanders a little after Volume 1, and the plot makes some baffling leaps, it is still electrifying and well worth viewing, particularly when viewed right after part one.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Facebook [Japan]

Country:

Denmark Germany Belgium UK France Sweden

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 March 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nymphomaniac: Vol. II

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$74,978, 6 April 2014

Gross USA:

$327,167

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,934,725

Company Credits

Production Co:

Zentropa Entertainments, Zentropa International Köln, Slot Machine

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min 178 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (Dolby 5.1)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1