PP on Nymphomaniac Film

2. NYMPHOMANIAC

3. The majority of the camera shots in this film are mid/close ups,
however in the scene where Joe loses her virginity to Jerome,
there are a lot of mid/close ups displaying facial expressions of
discomfort etc. The use of the two actors, one of which being very
small, makes the protagonist (Joe) looking weaker than Jerome.
Jerome isn’t seen to be the antagonist, as the scene isn’t a rape
scene like Irreversible, Joe suggests and asks Jerome for sex.
Her attire of a young school girl makes her seem much younger
than she is, and therefore imposes a great amount of weakness
on her. The walls and surroundings seem fatigued and dull, and
when mirrored with him it shows that it is his residence possibly
making her (and the audience) more on edge as there isn’t the
same level of comfort with someone else’s home. The numbers
that appear on the screen, breaks the fourth wall and makes a
more unpleasant viewing for the audience. During the sex act you
are able to see it happening, rather than just doing the
conventional close up of the protagonists uncomfortable face.
Although this isn’t a rape scene, it is useful due to the fact that the

4. The lighting in the scene is very high key, and quite a dull colour
palette, which conforms to the drama genre, however displays
some psychological elements to it. Other camera movements
consists of just a steady cam during the sex act so that the
audience isn’t distracted. Interestingly there isn’t any cuts in this
scene therefore the action isn’t dissected and it is even more
horrific as it makes it even more realistic. The way that the camera
moves is clear to see that it is on a tripod. I feel that this is very
useful as it allows the audience to be completely focused on the
sexual assault rather than be distracted by a shaky-cam.

5. The sound in this feature film, conforms to the cognitive needs of
the viewer, as the narrator and character in the scene describes
what is happening with regards to her unpleasant sexual
experience. The non diegetic sound used is panting and groans,
plus sounds of the banging of the headboard. In addition to this
the diegetic sounds of the narrator describing the act, is crude as
she uses words such as “fucked” and “ass”. There are diegetic
sounds of pings and beeps when the numbers appear on the
screen, symbolising how many times the character thrusted
against her. Often, the audience will hear less diegetic and more
non diegetic sounds of the actual scene, creating a more tense
and off putting, realistic atmosphere as you can hear the
protagonists yelps as well as the other characters.

6. Finally, the editing in the scene from the feature film was
relatively normal and consistent with the theme and editing of the
whole film. Due to the very naturalistic feel to the scene (despite
the breaking the fourth wall, of the appearance of the numbers
on screen) the cutting wasn’t very necessary, just when cuts
were needed to cut to a mid shot of the protagonists expressions
and body language, was editing mainly used. I feel that this
helped the viewers cognitive and integrative needs as they were
able to view the entire scene, without distraction from cutting and
could gain an emotional attachment to the character suffering
pain.