Irreversible

Always moving up. Since the story moves backwards, the straightforward revenge plot of the chronological narrative is transformed into something entirely different; quite simply it lifts us up back to innocence. This movie is the Fall in reverse.

It begins in a night club (though far more seedy than that!) where a brutal murder takes place right before our eyes. And, as it does at the end of every scene, the camera looks up, taking us back up a level. Eventually we witness the rape, which takes place below ground, and the camera seems to wistfully look up as she enters the tunnel to travel below the street. The reverse narrative creates a sense of horriblie futility, the suspense isn't in what will happen, just when. The corruption is preordained; it has already happened.

The final scenes go for broke and risk absurdity to create poetry by taking us back and up into purity. Much like in other films I have written about here, it is a sheer act of will on the part of the artist. But I think the title tells us he knows what it's good for. Here's to a film that's a great big sigh. Here's to a great unknown imagined beauty.