Climax (2018)

French dancers gather in a remote, empty school building to rehearse on a wintry night. The all-night celebration morphs into a hallucinatory nightmare when they learn their sangria is laced with LSD.

Director:

Gaspar Noé

Writer:

Gaspar Noé

Stars:

Sofia Boutella, Romain Guillermic, Souheila Yacoub

5 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sofia Boutella	...	Selva
Romain Guillermic	...	David
Souheila Yacoub	...	Lou
Kiddy Smile	...	Daddy
Claude-Emmanuelle Gajan-Maull	...	Emmanuelle (as Claude Gajan Maull)
Giselle Palmer	...	Gazelle
Taylor Kastle	...	Taylor
Thea Carla Schott	...	Psyche
Sharleen Temple	...	Ivana
Lea Vlamos	...	Lea
Alaia Alsafir	...	Alaya
Kendall Mugler	...	Rocket
Lakdhar Dridi	...	Riley
Adrien Sissoko	...	Omar
Mamadou Bathily	...	Bats

Storyline

In the mid 1990's, 20 French urban dancers join together for a three-day rehearsal in a closed-down boarding school located at the heart of a forest to share one last dance. They then make one last party around a large sangria bowl. Quickly, the atmosphere becomes charged and a strange madness will seize them the whole night. If it seems obvious to them that they have been drugged, they neither know by who nor why. And it's soon impossible for them to resist to their neuroses and psychoses, numbed by the hypnotic and the increasing electric rhythm of the music. While some feel in paradise, most of them plunge into hell.

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Plot Keywords:

lsd | gay | long take | dancing | sangria | 

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Music | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for disturbing content involving a combination of drug use, violent behavior and strong sexuality, and for language and some graphic nudity

Did You Know?

Trivia

The synopsis provided for Cannes Film Festival's 50th Directors' Fortnight section was such: "Birth and death are extraordinary experiences. Life is a fleeting pleasure."

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Goofs

Even though the film is set in 1996, the song Windowlicker by Aphex Twin is featured, which wasn't released until 1999.

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Quotes

Selva: Oh, you're so good! Thank you, thank...
Psyche: You liked it?
Selva: I'm so happy. I couldn't be happier.

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Crazy Credits

The credits begin with "A CEUX QUI NOUS ONT FAITS ET QUI NE SONT PLUS" ("to those who made us and who are no longer" in French), followed by "VOUS AVEZ VU UN FILM TIRE DE FAITS REELS SURVENUS EN FRANCE AU COEUR DE L'HIVER 1996" ("you have seen a movie taken from real events in France in the heart of winter 1996").

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Connections

Referenced in Midnight Screenings: Climax/Greta (2019)

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Soundtracks

Solidit
Written and Performed by Chris Carter
Published by Mute Song
Licensed courtesy of Mute Artists Limited

User Reviews

Mind blowing cinematography with a cult feel

This movie was an outstanding feat to begin with, with most actors having no prior experience and the brilliance of the cinematography. There was a 42 minute take I believe, no jump cuts just switching up who the camera followed taking you along for an excellent ride. And the whole film was done in such a short timeframe.

I liked the realism. While not the biggest fan of Vice I found the portrayal of what it's like to do psychedelic drugs in a bad setting quite on point and I think they were the right choice to make a film like this. Of course there is some extremity here and there baring in mind this was based off a true story where nothing really happened, but just the right amount. Excellent shock value and not nearly over the top.

I highly recommend this film. Not for the uptight kind though

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

France Belgium

Language:

French English

Release Date:

19 September 2018 (France)

Also Known As:

Climax

Filming Locations:

France

Box Office

Budget:

EUR2,600,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$119,423, 3 March 2019

Gross USA:

$817,339

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,027,391

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rectangle Productions, Wild Bunch, Les Cinémas de la Zone

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1