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Intimacy
2001 119 min France, Germany, Italy 18+
★6.2
Romance, Drama, Fantasy
Director: Patrice Chéreau
🎭 Based on
«Intimacy»
byHanif Kureishi
Trailers
Description
Failed musician Jay abandoned his family and now earns a living as head bartender in a trendy London pub. Every Wednesday afternoon, a woman comes to his house for graphic, almost wordless, sex. One day, Jay follows her and learns about her. This eventually disrupts their relationship.
US Gross:
$405,094
Worldwide:
$2.67M
Starring
Mark Rylance
Actor
Kerry Fox
Actor
Susannah Harker
Actor
Awards
Berlin International Film Festival 2001
— Golden Bear
Berlin International Film Festival 2001
— Silver Bear – Best Actress
Berlin International Film Festival 2001
— Blue Angel Prize – Best European Film
Berlin International Film Festival 2001
— Silver Bear – Best Actress
Berlin International Film Festival 2001
— Blue Angel Prize – Best European Film
European Film Awards 2001
— Best Cinematography
European Film Awards 2001
— Audience Award – Best Actor
European Film Awards 2001
— Audience Award – Best Director
Key opinion
Intimacy is a polarizing European drama that uses raw, unvarnished eroticism to explore the existential ennui and emotional isolation of its protagonists. While some viewers admire its authentic, theater-like atmosphere and psychological depth, others find the narrative hollow, the pacing stagnant, and the characters difficult to connect with.
| Cinematography | The film utilizes unadorned, realistic cinematography to capture raw, animalistic sexual encounters that emphasize emotional exposure over traditional eroticism. | |
| Acting | Mark Rylance and Kerry Fox deliver restrained, lifelike performances that anchor the story's focus on existential longing rather than romance. | |
| Pacing | The narrative structure creates a divisive experience: some find the methodical, contemplative pace authentic to its themes of routine, while others find the film boring and exhausting. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay receives conflicting assessments, with some praising its deep exploration of human alienation and societal roles, while others criticize its logic-free character motivations and superficial plot. | |
| Direction | The director’s heavy reliance on theatre-inspired staging and a bleak, gray aesthetic evokes a strong sense of place, though critics disagree on whether this creates depth or a sense of forced pretension. |