Claire (Kerry Fox) and Jay (Mark Rylance) meet on Wednesdays and make love. Without speaking, they share each other's bodies and desires. One day, Claire doesn't show, so Jay decides to find out more about his mysterious captivating lover. The only English-language film from acclaimed filmmaker Patrice Chereau (La Reine Margot), Intimacy was notorious upon its release for its inclusion of explicit sex scenes, but is perhaps now more intriguing to contemporary viewers for featuring Mark Rylance in an early lead role, when he was more renowned for his theatre work and some fifteen years before his Hollywood breakout in Spielberg's Bridge of Spies. Based on a story by Hanif Kureishi (My Beautiful Laundrette), the film is a fascinating example of an outsider's take on what would usually be classed as British social realism; with its focus on emotionally aloof characters striving to find connection amid the harsh locales of South London. Presented here in its unrated 120-minute version as opposed to the 107m cut seen in US cinemas.
Up Next in StudioCanal Films
-
Baise-moi
This film is a blunt, brash and blood-smeared revenge tale of two sex workers who decide to go on a killing spree through France. Co-directed by French feminist provocateur Despentes, and based on her book, Baise-moi does not care for cinematic slickness, instead using handheld visuals and raw la...
-
Criminal Lovers
A retelling of the Hansel and Gretel tale through a tacky tabloid lens and a distinct anti-authority vibe, this early Ozon film is sensationalistic by design. Teenage Alice (Régnier) convinces her boyfriend to murder her lover, but after the deed is done they're both trapped by a strange old man ...
-
Love Rites
When Hugo meets the enigmatic Myriam on the Paris Metro, he finds himself becoming increasingly obsessed with her. Following her back to her flat, Hugo sleeps with her, but finds that his obsession has grown until Myriam seems to have total control over his body and soul. The final film of cult f...
