The stop-start promotion of Lars von Trier‘s two-film, eight-part sex epic Nymphomaniac has hit its biggest point yet. The pot-stirring Dane had promised that a first “chapter teaser” would be unveiled on June 28, it being the first of many reveals which would act “like domino pieces counting down to the release.” But it’s not just a promotional tidbit we have, here: according to the same press release, “Each chapter teaser is defined by a headline, a still and a short narrative that playfully unveils the multilayered universe of Nymphomaniac with which Lars von Trier wants to introduce a new film genre: Digressionism.” (Which is another way of saying “departing from the main subject.”)
Granted the privilege of kicking this business off is The Guardian — a video link comes from the film’s website, however — who provide the public with an excerpt from Nymphomaniac‘s first chapter, “The Compleat Angler.” (Yes, that’s how it’s spelled.) Give this set-up a read:
“CHAPTER ONE
The Compleat Angler
How does an ordinary bag of chocolate sweets become a symbol of sexual victory?
As Joe and her experienced friend B embark on a train trip, they bet on how many men they can seduce on the ride.
The grand prize is a delicious bag of chocolate sweets, and it soon becomes clear to Joe that in order to win, she needs to lure the prey into biting the hook like a skilled fisherman.”
While the woman at its center, Joe, is portrayed by Charlotte Gainsbourg for most (if not the rest) of Nymphomaniac‘s lengthy runtime, this glimpse of her early days shows off the work of newcomer Stacy Martin, accompanied by Sophie Kennedy Clark as her fellow adventurer, B. All the hubbub aside, this — to be honest; and why shouldn’t we be? — is far too brief to get a solid impression from; other than shades of von Trier‘s handheld digital aesthetic — which no one was expecting to see jettisoned in favor of a more clean style, anyway — a “chapter teaser” feels about as ephemeral as such a title might suggest. But if he’s going to have some fun in selling an otherwise heady piece of work? Keep going.
Watch the clip below, and come back for more on July 26:
Synopsis:
The film is a wild and poetic story of a woman’s erotic journey from birth to the age of 50 as told by the main character, the self-diagnosed nymphomaniac, Joe (Gainsbourg). On a cold winter’s evening the old, charming bachelor, Seligman (Skarsgård), finds Joe beaten up in an alley. He brings her home to his flat where he cares for her wounds while asking her about her life. He listens intently as Joe over the next 8 chapters recounts the lushly branched-out and multi-faceted story of her life, rich in associations and interjecting incidents.
Nymphomaniac also stars Stellan Skarsgård, Shia LaBeouf, Jamie Bell, Christian Slater, Uma Thurman, Willem Dafoe, Connie Nielsen, Udo Kier, and Jean-Marc Barr. It’s expected to open on December 25 in Denmark; a domestic release date has not been announced.
Though brief, what do you have to say about this first clip? Does von Trier’s marketing strategy speak to you?