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NYMPHOMANIAC : VOLUME I – The Review

By Melissa Howland | March 28, 2014

Lars von Trier’s NYMPHOMANIAC : VOLUME 1 is a powerful, comedic drama that goes where few (non-pornography) theatrical films have gone before.

NYMPHOMANIAC : VOLUME 1 introduces us Joe (Charlotte Gainsbourge) as she opens up about her early upbringing to a stranger named Seligman (Stellan Skarsgard) who has found her bloody and beaten in an ally. After cleaning her up and offering her a bed to rest in, Joe begins the story of how she came to be in that alley – a story full a young Joe (played by Stacy Martin) discovering her body, sexuality, and eventually… love.

As the tale goes on, Seligman begins to relate her stories to the only things that he can – fly fishing, art, numbers etc. He listens intently as Joe opens up about the best, and worst times of her life without judgement or prejudice. But remember, we’ve only heard half of the story.

At first glance, most people assume that Lars von Trier is going to fill this film with a ton of pornographic, sexually explicit acts. Despite the pounding music and flashy images that the trailers showcase… those people would be wrong. Although there are sex scenes that beg the question as to whether the actors were actually having sex (which they are not according multiple accounts from the actors during their recent press tour), the film did not make such graphic scenes a habit. Also, graphic scenes were kept very short. Once their impact (no pun intended) was made, von Trier was on to the next scene.

This film is not a sexy telling of a young girls sexcapades. Rather, it’s a look into the psychology behind sex, and people with unusual desires and needs. Joe’s tale starts out when she was incredibly young, and focuses on her need for sexual interaction rather than her enjoyment. Although she wasn’t enjoying her erotic activity in the beginning, she soon found that with sex, there was a certain kind of power. Her past is filled with sexual games such as competing with her best friend to see how many men they could sleep with on a single train ride. The winner got nothing more than a bag of sweets, but it wasn’t about the prize. She enjoyed the game. The manipulation. As she began gaining pleasure, her appetite increased, and so did her schedule of lovers. We are also confronted with her first feelings of love once she begins working for the man who, years ago, took her virginity (Shia LaBeouf).

There is more to this film than sex, pleasure, and tales of youth gone wild. We are also confronted with loss, as Joe loses her beloved father that we see through guide her through her childhood with tales of trees on their walks though the woods. The one connection we see as a constant with Joe is the relationship with her dad, played by Christian Slater. Their connection is the one breath of innocence that Joe has left. When it is taken away, it is an intense moment.

Stacy Martin is fantastic as the dead eyed, sexually sprightly Joe. She does a fantastic job of leaving her emotion and chemistry out the window as she takes on her many lovers. When we finally do see her click with someone, it’s a very powerful moment. Shia LaBeouf has always impressed me as an actor. He has a way of translating scenes to an audience in a realistic way, without going over the top.

NYMPHOMANIAC : VOLUME 1 is not for an uptight audience. Having said that, there is much more than explicit sex going on in this film. It’s the tale of a girl trying to live her life and cope with her needs in a society that does not understand.