Nymphomaniac: Volume II
Dir: Lars von Trier
2014
*****
Nymphomaniac, the conclusion. The second part appeals less somewhat (only just) for a few reasons. Manly because it doesn't have that one great scene like the first film had (the first part had several). My favorite scene of the first film is the one involving Uma Thurman's Mrs. H, my only criticism being the casting of Shia LaBeouf and his awful fake British accent. Interestingly, the Mrs. H scene is that of punishment. Joe is punished for her actions, she is ridiculed and made to look foolish by an adult. My favorite scene in the second part is similar but the complete opposite. Joe chooses to be punished, quite severely so, and ridiculed in this case by someone much younger than her. This parallel is the key to the film. Nymphomaniac is all metaphor, none of it is real. Trier takes the ordinary to the extreme to highlight how ridiculous our collective way of thinking often is. It is not about sex. It should be noted that the person our Nymphomaniac is talking to is a-sexual, so we have the perfect balance of ideas and ideals. I'd worry about anyone who thinks this film is either porn or sexy.
Nymphomaniac also signifies something else. I believe Trier is one of the greatest directors/storytellers of all time. All themes covered throughout his films are present in this film. Certain scenes are almost carbon copies. I believe this is intentional. I think this could mark the end of one and the beginning of another chapter in his career. His idea of right often being wrong and our perception of wrong often being right is a fascinating one and he explores it through some of the most striking films ever to have been committed to celluloid. As a film critic I welcome it, as I can write what I like and who is to say I'm wrong. Put that into an everyday context though, look at your life and question everything you see, is everything you know to be everything you think it is or do you take everything for granted? Believe nothing, question everything, opinion can be both fact and incorrect. Try a different cup of Tea for a change.

"A film should be like a stone in your shoe" - Lars von Trier.