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Intimacy
TVA International // Unrated // May 21, 2002
List Price: $24.98 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
The Movie:
Director Patrice Chéreau ("Queen Margot") makes her English-language debut with "Intimacy", an explicit and powerful drama that debuted in the US in 2001, surpassing the "R" rating (the film was released with no rating on 8 screens). Often compared with French film "An Affair Of Love", the difference here is that we are not left outside when the doors close and the clothes are removed.
The film stars Mark Rylance as Jay and Kerry Fox as Claire. We do not know how they originally met, but once the film opens, we find out that both meet once every Wednesday for a wordless sexual encounter. There is not love evident in their actions, but the search for love or simply, the search for contact - for someone to see and feel and find comfort with. As Jay says at one point when confronted if he's seeing anyone else besides Claire, "this woman, she's all I've got." After it's over, they both go their separate ways. There's a particularly haunting moment where she seems to vanish into thin air as the door swings closed.
Jay, who is a head bartender separated from his wife, decides one day that he wants to know more about this woman that he sees each week. Eventually, he follows her and realizes that she's married and an aspiring actress (she performs in a basement theater with a sign on the door that states, "Theater and Toilets"). He even begins to have a conversation with her not-so-dim husband (the great Timothy Spall). As both of them learn more about one another, the world of two that they've created for one another begins to fall apart.
I liked several aspects of the film. The film's cinematography is striking, going for a documentary-style appearance that really makes the film feel even more raw and realistic. There is a bleakness to the film that is crisp and cool, but not so grim as to be depressing. The film is also this way, remaining grim, but never too detached or depressing to lose interest. Several scenes have great, natural dialogue - especially one particular moment early on where Rylance's bartender goes into detail about a few customers before they even come up to the bar to order a drink.
The film became somewhat notorious for its graphic and raw portrayal of sex, which takes place between Rylance and Fox several times throughout the film. With its sad tone and low-key surroundings, there's nothing particularly erotic about these scenes.
Fox, Rylance and Spall are extremely good in tough roles. Fox is really the stand-out, though, going from quiet and subdued to deeply unhappy. There are a few scenes in the later half of the film where she breaks down that are quite devastating.
"Intimacy" is a dark and haunting drama that explores the lives and desires of people who are flawed, lonely and in pain, seeking emotional comfort and not finding it in brief physical encounters. They don't have the answers, nor does the film, which thankfully does not wrap up everything neatly. If anything, I would have liked the film to be a bit tighter; there's one or two supporting characters that didn't seem to have enough purpose to be included; at 119 minutes, the film keeps the interest, but it would be better had it gained a bit more focus. While the characters are generally well-written, I couldn't help but feel as if a little more depth and exploration was needed into trying to find out who they are and why they do what they do.
Overall, although I did find fault in a few areas, I was impressed by the film. It's certainly and understandably not going to be everyone's cup-of-tea, but I thought it was a very strong effort.
The DVD
VIDEO: TVA International presents "Intimacy" in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen (the back cover mistakenly lists 1.85:1 as the aspect ratio). The film is a low-budget drama, often filmed with handheld cameras and what looks to be available light. The presentation is an enjoyable one, though and offers the film in a way that I'd guess is about as good as it can look. Sharpness and detail are solid throughout the film; there are some dark or dimly-lit scenes in the movie, but they still show a satisfactory amount of detail.
There are really few problems to discuss with the presentation. The print was in terrific condition, with only a speck or two and what appears to be intentional grain. No pixelation was seen, nor was any edge enhancement. The film's natural color palette - often dark and grim, occasionally a bit brighter, was well-rendered and without flaw.
SOUND: "Intimacy" is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1. The sound stays very front-focused, but pleasing. Surrounds occasionally come in with very subtle ambient sounds, but most of the audio comes from the front. Dialogue and a mild score are the focus, but there is also quite a good deal of environment sounds, whether the characters are in a crowded pub or out on the streets. Audio quality was pleasing, but unexceptional, as dialogue remained clear and crisp and music remained clean-sounding and light, with an unforced presence.
MENUS: Very basic non-animated main and sub-menus, available in English or French.
EXTRAS: The trailer.
Final Thoughts: "Intimacy" is not a film without some concerns, nor is it a film for everyone. I thought it was a very strong film though, offering excellent performances from all involved as well as strong mood and atmosphere. There is not a US release of the film yet, as this is a Region 1 DVD that is a Canadian exclusive from TVA International. The DVD is available for order from online retailer videoflicks.com or any other online retailer that sells Canadian titles.
Director Patrice Chéreau ("Queen Margot") makes her English-language debut with "Intimacy", an explicit and powerful drama that debuted in the US in 2001, surpassing the "R" rating (the film was released with no rating on 8 screens). Often compared with French film "An Affair Of Love", the difference here is that we are not left outside when the doors close and the clothes are removed.
The film stars Mark Rylance as Jay and Kerry Fox as Claire. We do not know how they originally met, but once the film opens, we find out that both meet once every Wednesday for a wordless sexual encounter. There is not love evident in their actions, but the search for love or simply, the search for contact - for someone to see and feel and find comfort with. As Jay says at one point when confronted if he's seeing anyone else besides Claire, "this woman, she's all I've got." After it's over, they both go their separate ways. There's a particularly haunting moment where she seems to vanish into thin air as the door swings closed.
Jay, who is a head bartender separated from his wife, decides one day that he wants to know more about this woman that he sees each week. Eventually, he follows her and realizes that she's married and an aspiring actress (she performs in a basement theater with a sign on the door that states, "Theater and Toilets"). He even begins to have a conversation with her not-so-dim husband (the great Timothy Spall). As both of them learn more about one another, the world of two that they've created for one another begins to fall apart.
I liked several aspects of the film. The film's cinematography is striking, going for a documentary-style appearance that really makes the film feel even more raw and realistic. There is a bleakness to the film that is crisp and cool, but not so grim as to be depressing. The film is also this way, remaining grim, but never too detached or depressing to lose interest. Several scenes have great, natural dialogue - especially one particular moment early on where Rylance's bartender goes into detail about a few customers before they even come up to the bar to order a drink.
The film became somewhat notorious for its graphic and raw portrayal of sex, which takes place between Rylance and Fox several times throughout the film. With its sad tone and low-key surroundings, there's nothing particularly erotic about these scenes.
Fox, Rylance and Spall are extremely good in tough roles. Fox is really the stand-out, though, going from quiet and subdued to deeply unhappy. There are a few scenes in the later half of the film where she breaks down that are quite devastating.
"Intimacy" is a dark and haunting drama that explores the lives and desires of people who are flawed, lonely and in pain, seeking emotional comfort and not finding it in brief physical encounters. They don't have the answers, nor does the film, which thankfully does not wrap up everything neatly. If anything, I would have liked the film to be a bit tighter; there's one or two supporting characters that didn't seem to have enough purpose to be included; at 119 minutes, the film keeps the interest, but it would be better had it gained a bit more focus. While the characters are generally well-written, I couldn't help but feel as if a little more depth and exploration was needed into trying to find out who they are and why they do what they do.
Overall, although I did find fault in a few areas, I was impressed by the film. It's certainly and understandably not going to be everyone's cup-of-tea, but I thought it was a very strong effort.
The DVD
VIDEO: TVA International presents "Intimacy" in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen (the back cover mistakenly lists 1.85:1 as the aspect ratio). The film is a low-budget drama, often filmed with handheld cameras and what looks to be available light. The presentation is an enjoyable one, though and offers the film in a way that I'd guess is about as good as it can look. Sharpness and detail are solid throughout the film; there are some dark or dimly-lit scenes in the movie, but they still show a satisfactory amount of detail.
There are really few problems to discuss with the presentation. The print was in terrific condition, with only a speck or two and what appears to be intentional grain. No pixelation was seen, nor was any edge enhancement. The film's natural color palette - often dark and grim, occasionally a bit brighter, was well-rendered and without flaw.
SOUND: "Intimacy" is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1. The sound stays very front-focused, but pleasing. Surrounds occasionally come in with very subtle ambient sounds, but most of the audio comes from the front. Dialogue and a mild score are the focus, but there is also quite a good deal of environment sounds, whether the characters are in a crowded pub or out on the streets. Audio quality was pleasing, but unexceptional, as dialogue remained clear and crisp and music remained clean-sounding and light, with an unforced presence.
MENUS: Very basic non-animated main and sub-menus, available in English or French.
EXTRAS: The trailer.
Final Thoughts: "Intimacy" is not a film without some concerns, nor is it a film for everyone. I thought it was a very strong film though, offering excellent performances from all involved as well as strong mood and atmosphere. There is not a US release of the film yet, as this is a Region 1 DVD that is a Canadian exclusive from TVA International. The DVD is available for order from online retailer videoflicks.com or any other online retailer that sells Canadian titles.
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