Intimacy (2001)

Director:

Patrice Chéreau

Writers:

Hanif Kureishi (stories)
Anne-Louise Trividic (written by) ...

Release Date:

28 March 2001 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Adult

Tagline:

Every Wednesday, She meets once a week.

Plot:

A failed London musician meets once a week with a woman for a series of intense sexual encounters to get away from the realities of life. But when he begins inquiring about her, it puts their relationship at risk.

Plot Keywords:

Musician | Sexual Encounter | Bartender | Pub | Sex

Awards:

6 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Mark Rylance	...	Jay
Kerry Fox	...	Claire
Susannah Harker	...	Susan, Jay's wife
Alastair Galbraith	...	Victor
Philippe Calvario	...	Ian
Timothy Spall	...	Andy
Marianne Faithfull	...	Betty
Fraser Ayres	...	Dave
Michael Fitzgerald	...	Bar owner
Robert Addie	...	Bar owner
Deborah McLaren	...	Student at the drama school
Rebecca R. Palmer	...	Pam, girl in squat (as Rebecca Palmer)
Greg Sheffield	...	Jay's son
Vinnie Hunter	...	Jay's son (as Vinni Hunter)
Joe Prospero	...	Luke, Claire's son

Also Known As:

Intimidad (Spain)
Intimité (France)
Intimacy (Finland) (TV title) [fi]
Intimacy - Shinmitsu (Japan) [ja]
Intimidad (Argentina) [es]
Intimitás (Hungary) [hu]
Intimité (Canada: French title) [fr]
Mahremiyet (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Sarkiki exartisi (Greece) [el]

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content and language.

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

France | UK | Germany | Spain

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:Unrated | Iceland:16 | Hungary:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:R | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Poland:18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R (heavily cut) | Chile:14 | Singapore:R(A) (heavily cut) | Australia:MA (cable rating)

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Company:

Téléma

Trivia:

The first mainstream English language film with unsimulated sex scenes to be passed uncut in Great Britain.

Quotes:

Ian: You know when you're with someone there's only a very short time when you can really give each other things for free... with neither of you having to ask. Because later on all you do is make demands of each other. Perhaps the only difference between her and all the rest is that she's asking you for nothing.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Man yan (2004)

Soundtrack:

Keynote Inertia

Well Acted Drama

'Intimacy' is a very well acted drama, set in London. Jay has left his wife and son a year ago, and lives a disordered life, working as a barman, and carrying some ambiguous relationships with a couple of friends. He meets weekly a woman, Claire, with which he has a pure sexual affair, without any communication, a la 'Last Tango in Paris'. Things start to go wrong in this affair, when apparently involved he follows and finds out the background of the woman, and befriends her husband and young son.

The film is not easy, and sometimes the border between complexity and confusion is crossed. However, the acting is so good that the characters are just alive. Life is confusing as well many times, after all.

The film has many explicit sex scenes, and they have their place in the story line. This film is to a big extend about communication, and sex is the main way of communication between Jay and Claire for much of the film. Will this be enough to sustain their relationship? Well, go and see the movie and you will find out.

8/10 on my personal scale.