NYMPH()MANIAC - Vol II

NYMPH()MANIAC Volume II is the conclusion to Lars Von Triers Depression Trilogy and the final part of his two part opus, NYMPH()MANIAC. The film stars Charlotte Gainsborough as Joe, a self diagnosed nymphomaniac who recounts her erotic history. The film also stars Stellan Skarsgard as Seligman, Shia LaBeouf as Jerome, Jamie Bell as K and Willem Dafoe as L. The film also introduces Mia Goth as P and Stacy Martin as the young Joe.

NYMPH()MANIAC is an opus which deserves to be seen in its entirety, and i found that it was only upon viewing the entire piece that i was truly able to understand it's themes and concepts, it is perhaps worth noting that the film was written and directed in one part, and was later edited and censored to its current length and form. Thus the film was never intended to be in two parts, and despite being split for commercial reasons, the film must be analyzed as a whole. I find that i am now able to understand Lars Von Triers intentions, and his ideas on female sexuality.

The film starts exactly where the previous volume left off, Joe is now in a relationship with Jerome, after meeting him in the park, and they now have a child, Joe finds herself with a voracious sexual appetite which Jerome is unable to keep up with, so he tells her to have sex with other++ men, and then becomes supremely jealous. Joe finds herself visiting K, a doctor like man who whips and punishes women at their request. Finally Joe becomes a debt collector, using her sexuality to torture and extort men.

The performances in this film are strong, and Charlotte Gainsborough is fantastic in this film, she shines as the fragile yet defiant Joe, a woman who takes charge of her own sexuality and who is unafraid to be judged. for the choices she has made. The film also features strong performances by Jamie Bell and Shia LaBeouf, each of whom manage to be neither overtly menacing nor entirely comforting, and who manage to act out well rounded character who seem to have neither pasts nor futures, and who don't even have names.

The film is significantly darker than volume one, the film deals with themes of depression, violence, pedophilia and sadomasochism. The theme of violence and sadomasochism is perhaps the most intriguing and well explored theme in the entire opus, Joes interest in punishment and torture often seems without payoff, and her motives are often bizarre for the audience to understand, the acts in which she partakes, suck as being slapped across the face with a glove full of coins, being whipped with a cat whip and being fisted, giving name to the subtitle, The Silent Duck. These actions often seem highly unsexual in nature, and K resists all advantages Joe makes, yet it is this relationship that brings Joe's sexuality back to life.

The film also addresses the hypocrisy between male and female sexuality, Seligman says to Joe that if she was a man, her actions would be seen as acceptable, even admirable, yet because she is a woman, she is despised and looked down on as a slut or a whore. Joe is a woman who loves her sexuality and loves who she it, although she is a nymphomaniac, and has had to deal with the outcome that her lifestyle has had on her body, she loves herself for it, and she has no apologies. Joe has started to believe what society says about her, and the way society has rejected her, and Seligman helps her to see past this external vision she has.

The other theme explored is choice. Throughout her past Joe has made choices, she wasn't abused, she wasn't raped, she made the choice to have sex and she made the choice to stop. At the end of the movie, Seligman attempts to rape Joe, assuming that she wouldn't mide, saying to her that she has been with hundreds of men, and can be with one more, Joe reacts badly to this. The film explores the idea that Joe's actions are excusable, because she made choices, and also didn't make a choice. Let me explain, when Joe is talking to Seligman about the pedophile she says that it must be impossible to live with a forbidden sexual desire, and that her nymphomania is something she was born with, and that she cannot control, it also says that she made a choice to sleep with the men, and that acting upon her sexuality was a choice she made, that society shouldn't judge her for.

I found Nymphomaniac in its entirety to be a deeply moving and powerful drama, which has some interesting things to say about female sexuality, and the relationship we have with our own sexuality. Nymphomaniac is perhaps Lars Von Trier's most intriguing and well formed film, in addition to having an original structure and format, and being a visually stunning, well acted opus. Volume II of this is perhaps significantly less thrilling and full than volume I, but nonetheless, it remains one of the most intriguing films i have seen for a very long time. Rating: B+

K: That's not how this goes. Most people don't scream until I hit them.