NOE AND FASHION

Agnes B, a French fashion company, helped finance Gaspar Noe's first feature film I STAND ALONE (as well as being specifically thanked at the end of TROUBLE EVERY DAY).  There is an undeniable connection between the themes of the New Extreme and high fashion, especially European fashion magazines.  It is a really interesting collision of art and commerce, similar to cinema itself.  Here a a couple examples of the intersection of fashion, cinema, and the extreme through Gaspar Noe.  Earlier we watched a few of his music videos where he honed some techniques and probably picked up a pay check, and these offer a similar glimpse at Noe's methods.  The first is an avant-garde/experimental set of shorts staring super model Eva Herzigova and the second is a cologne commercial staring Vincent Cassel.

IRREVERSIBLE SCREENING

"An integrated work whose form clearly mirrors its content."
-Rick Groen, GLOBE AND MAIL

"Noe's summation is an ideological sucker-punch from a filmmaker who gets off on abusive relationships."
-Wesley Morris, BOSTON GLOBE

"Is there a point to this spew, a cry against the mongrel violence of men? Or is Noe merely a sadist who enjoys inflicting ugly, pitiless images on his audience?"
-Edward Guthmann, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

One of the most controversial and infamous films, IRREVERSIBLE continues Gaspar Noe's attempts to alienate his audience.  Based on the premise that 'time destroys everything,' IRREVERSIBLE employs a backward narration that reimagines the genre of the rape-revenge film.  Combining images and sounds that irritate and trouble, Noe assaults the spectator.  Now a cult film, its original release united debates over its sexual violence, censorship, and artistic expression.

Suggested Secondary Screenings:  5x2 (Francois Ozon, 2004) and MEMENTO (Christopher Nolan, 2000)

GASPAR NOE'S MUSIC VIDEOS

Noe has often spoken about the limits of feature-length narrative cinema and tests out many of his techniques in the short format, such as music video.  These projects often allow him to focus on the image.  Despite there uniquness, there are certainly overarching themes and signatures that are at work in his feature films as well. 

"With a short [film] you are allowed to do whatever you want. It's like if you have a girlfriend and she tells you that you can do whatever you want. That's very exciting."

-Gaspar Noe

JE SUIS SI MINCE
by Arielle.

INSANELY CHEERFUL
by Bone Fiction.



PROTEGE-MOI

by Placebo.

Warning this video features explicit sex.  The song is a French version of Placebo's PROTECT ME FROM WHAT I WANT.  The translation was done by Virginie Despentes, a French novelist and filmaker.  She is the director of BAISE-MOI, which we will watch later in the course.  It shows a working relationship between Despentes and Noe, as well as a possible link between the song and themes associated with these directors and the New Extreme.

"There is no line between art and pornography. You can make art of anything. You can make an experimental movie with that candle or with this tape recorder. You can make a piece of art with a cat drinking milk. You can make a piece of art with people having sex. There is no line. Anything that is shot or reproduced in an unusual way is considered artistic or experimental."

-Gaspar Noe

I STAND ALONE SCREENING

“Fiercely intelligent.  Cinematically sophisticated… the most disturbing film of the decade.”

-Amy Taubin, THE VILLAGE VOICE

“Stunning… A rigorous cinematic intelligence at work… harrowing, sensational.”

-Gavin Smith, FILM COMMENT

“Phenomenal!  The confidence and gleeful skill of Gaspar Noe are the undeniable hallmarks of a major filmmaker in the making.”

-Andrew Johnson, TIMEOUT NY

I STAND ALONE (1998), Gaspar Noe’s first feature film, follows an embittered nameless butcher who is alone in the world.  Unable to find love or a job, the butcher is willing to place blame on everyone but himself.  Filled with hate, this racist, misogynist unemployed ex-con rages against the world with a short temper and death wish.  Rather than shy away from this abominable character, Noe unflinchingly enters the mind of this troubled being.  A sequel to CARNE (1992), Noe’s earlier short, I STAND ALONE is a cornerstone of the New Extreme in both content and form.  Its characters and form of cinema can only be described as cruel. 

For more information on Noe.

Suggested Supplemental Screening:  TAXI DRIVER (Martin Scorsese, 1976), FALLING DOWN (Joel Schumacher, 1993), and LA HAINE (Mathieu Kassovitz, 1995)