# Nymphomaniac

> 2013 film by Lars von Trier

**Wikidata**: [Q3346699](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3346699)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphomaniac_(film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/nymphomaniac

## Summary

Nymphomaniac is a 2013 two-part epic psychological drama film written and directed by Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier, exploring the life story of a woman named Joe from birth to old age, tracing her sexual addiction and its consequences. The film was released in two volumes—Volume I on December 25, 2013, and Volume II on January 16, 2014—and features an ensemble cast led by Charlotte Gainsbourg and Stacy Martin, with the narrative framed as a story told by Joe to the kindly stranger Seligman.

## Key Facts

- **Title**: Nymphomaniac
- **Director**: Lars von Trier
- **Release Dates**: Volume I – December 25, 2013; Volume II – January 16, 2014
- **Runtime**: 240 minutes total (approximately 118 minutes Volume I, 122 minutes Volume II)
- **Genre**: Drama film, art film, LGBTQ-related film
- **Country of Origin**: France, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, United Kingdom
- **Production Companies**: Zentropa (Denmark), Les Films du Losange (France)
- **Lead Cast**: Charlotte Gainsbourg (as Joe), Stacy Martin (as young Joe)
- **Language**: English
- **Wikidata Description**: "2013 film by Lars von Trier"
- **Rotten Tomatoes Score**: 76%
- **Website**: http://www.nymphomaniacthemovie.com
- **Wikidata ID**: Q11424 (instance of film)
- **Wikipedia Sitelink Count**: 43

## FAQs

**What is Nymphomaniac about?** Nymphomaniac is a two-part psychological drama that tells the life story of a woman named Joe, from her childhood through old age, focusing on her struggle with sexual addiction. The narrative is presented as a confession told to a man named Seligman who finds her beaten in an alley.

**Who directed Nymphomaniac?** The film was directed by Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier, known for his controversial and boundary-pushing works such as Antichrist, Melancholia, and Breaking the Waves. This was his second film to star Charlotte Gainsbourg after Antichrist (2009).

**When was Nymphomaniac released?** Nymphomaniac was released in two volumes: Volume I premiered on December 25, 2013, and Volume II premiered on January 16, 2014. The film had its world premiere at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

**Which countries co-produced Nymphomaniac?** The film was a pan-European co-production involving five countries: France (through Les Films du Losange), Denmark (through Zentropa), Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.

**Who stars in Nymphomaniac?** The film features Charlotte Gainsbourg in the lead role of Joe (adult), with Stacy Martin playing the younger version of the character. The ensemble cast includes Stellan Skarsgård, Shia LaBeouf, Jamie Bell, Christian Slater, and many others in supporting roles.

**What genres does Nymphomaniac belong to?** Nymphomaniac is classified as a drama film, an art film, and an LGBTQ-related film, reflecting its exploration of sexuality, identity, and unconventional narrative structures.

**What is the runtime of Nymphomaniac?** The complete film runs approximately 240 minutes (about 4 hours) across both volumes, with Volume I running roughly 118 minutes and Volume II running approximately 122 minutes.

## Why It Matters

Nymphomaniac represents one of Lars von Trier's most ambitious and controversial works, continuing his tradition of exploring extreme human experiences and emotions through cinema. The film matters as a bold artistic statement that challenges conventional storytelling and societal taboos around female sexuality and addiction. Its multi-volume structure allows for an expansive, novelistic exploration of a character's entire life, from childhood to old age, presented through the lens of confession and storytelling.

The film's significance extends to its pan-European production model, representing collaboration between five countries and drawing talent from across the continent. This reflects the strength of European co-production in supporting ambitious artistic projects that might not find funding within single national film industries.

Von Trier's collaboration with Charlotte Gainsbourg—his second film with her after Antichrist (2009)—produced some of the most memorable performances in contemporary art cinema. Gainsbourg's willingness to embody challenging, unflinching roles has contributed significantly to the film's impact and critical reception.

The film also matters for its formal experimentation. By structuring the narrative as a story within a story, with Joe recounting her life to the passive listener Seligman, von Trier creates opportunities for philosophical digressions, visual metaphors, and non-linear storytelling that elevate the work beyond conventional biopic or addiction narratives.

## Notable For

- **Two-Part Epic Structure**: Released as two separate theatrical volumes, making it one of the most expansive narrative films of its era
- **Ensemble Cast**: Features an international cast including Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stacy Martin, Stellan Skarsgård, Shia LaBeouf, Jamie Bell, Christian Slater, Udo Kier, and others
- **Pan-European Co-Production**: Produced by five countries (France, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, UK) through prominent production companies including Zentropa and Les Films du Losange
- **Rotten Tomatoes Score**: 76% approval rating indicating generally favorable critical reception
- **Director's Provocative Oeuvre**: Part of Lars von Trier's controversial but critically acclaimed body of work including Antichrist, Melancholia, and Breaking the Waves
- **Long-Form Narrative**: Approximately 4-hour total runtime allowing for comprehensive exploration of a character's life
- **Female Protagonist**: Centers on a woman's journey through sexual addiction, a relatively rare perspective in mainstream cinema

## Body

### Production Background

Nymphomaniac was produced by Zentropa, the Danish film company founded in 1992 by Lars von Trier and Zentropa's president, and Les Films du Losange, the French production company established in 1962. The pan-European co-production model brought together financing and resources from France, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, reflecting the collaborative nature of contemporary European art cinema.

Zentropa has been instrumental in the Danish film industry's international prominence, having produced numerous acclaimed films beyond von Trier's work. Les Films du Losange, named after the French term for "the Dieppe films," was founded by Éric Rohmer and has maintained a reputation for supporting auteur-driven French cinema.

### Cast and Characters

**Charlotte Gainsbourg** portrays the adult Joe, the protagonist whose life story forms the narrative backbone of the film. Gainsbourg, born in 1971, holds dual French and British citizenship and has established herself as one of Europe's most versatile performers, equally accomplished in dramatic film and music. Her collaboration with von Trier began with Antichrist (2009), for which she won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress. Her other notable work includes The Dreamlife of Angels, Persepolis, and her musical career under Atlantic Records.

**Stacy Martin** plays the younger version of Joe, depicting the character's formative years and early struggles with sexuality and addiction. Martin is a French-British actress whose career has included work in both French and international cinema.

The ensemble cast includes numerous internationally recognized actors: Stellan Skarsgård as Seligman, the quiet, intellectual stranger who listens to Joe's confession; Shia LaBeouf; Jamie Bell; Christian Slater; Udo Kier; and many others appearing in supporting roles throughout the two volumes.

### Release and Distribution

The film had its world premiere at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, where von Trier's provocative work has historically generated significant attention and controversy. The theatrical release was structured in two parts: Volume I premiered on December 25, 2013, and Volume II followed on January 16, 2014.

This two-volume release strategy was unusual for contemporary cinema, allowing audiences to experience the narrative in extended form while also making the work more accessible for theatrical distribution. The total runtime of approximately 240 minutes positions Nymphomaniac among the longer narrative features in modern cinema.

### Genre and Themes

Nymphomaniac is classified across multiple genre categories: drama film, art film, and LGBTQ-related film. These classifications reflect both its narrative content and its formal experimentation.

The film explores themes of sexual addiction, confession, storytelling, morality, and the human condition. By framing the narrative as Joe's confession to Seligman, von Trier creates a structure that allows for philosophical digressions, flashbacks, and non-linear storytelling. The relationship between Joe and Seligman—herself the victim of a beating, him the passive listener—creates a dynamic that mirrors confessional structures while also questioning the nature of storytelling and interpretation.

### Technical Specifications

The film was shot in English, unusual for von Trier whose earlier works were primarily in Danish. This choice facilitated the international ensemble cast and expanded the film's potential audience. The technical properties documented in Wikidata include various identifiers across multiple platforms, reflecting the film's digital presence and cataloging across different knowledge systems.

The Rotten Tomatoes score of 76% indicates generally favorable critical reception, with praise directed toward the performances, von Trier's direction, and the film's ambitious scope, though reactions were mixed regarding its controversial content and explicit material.

### Related Entities and Connections

The production companies involved—Zentropa and Les Films du Losange—represent significant entities in European cinema. Zentropa, founded by von Trier in 1992, has been responsible for numerous acclaimed Danish films and has expanded into international co-productions. Les Films du Losange, founded by Éric Rohmer in 1962, has been a consistent supporter of French auteur cinema.

The cast connections are notable: Charlotte Gainsbourg's career includes collaborations with many of France's most respected filmmakers, and her dual French-British background reflects the film's multinational production. Stacy Martin represents the younger generation of French-British acting talent.

The film's genre classifications connect it to broader categories including drama film (a fundamental film genre), art film (reflecting its experimental and auteur-driven nature), and LGBTQ-related film (addressing sexuality and identity).

### Cultural and Artistic Significance

Nymphomaniac represents a continuation of Lars von Trier's provocative artistic vision, which has consistently challenged audiences and pushed boundaries throughout his career. From Breaking the Waves through Dancer in the Dark, Dogville, Antichrist, and Melancholia, von Trier has built a body of work characterized by extreme emotional experiences, controversial subject matter, and formal experimentation.

The film's focus on female sexuality and addiction from a woman's perspective is relatively rare in cinema, particularly in works by male directors. While controversial, this perspective has been praised for its unflinching examination of desire, shame, and the complexity of female experience.

The two-part structure allows for the kind of expansive, novelistic storytelling that cinema rarely attempts, particularly in contemporary commercial contexts. This ambition, combined with the ensemble cast and international production, represents the kind of ambitious artistic project that European co-production models make possible.

### Reception and Legacy

The film's Rotten Tomatoes score of 76% places it among von Trier's better-received works, though critical opinion remains divided on its controversial content. The director's willingness to provoke and challenge audiences remains a defining characteristic of his work, and Nymphomaniac continues discussions about the boundaries of cinema, representation, and artistic freedom.

The film's presence across multiple knowledge systems—Wikidata, Wikipedia (with 43 language editions), and various film databases—indicates its cultural significance and the interest it has generated globally. Its classification as both an art film and a drama, with LGBTQ-related themes, positions it within multiple film discourse communities.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.adorocinema.com/filmes/filme-196465/)
2. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2382009/)
3. [Source](http://news.nationalpost.com/arts/movies/nyphomaniac-volumes-i-and-ii-reviewed-lars-von-triers-sexually-graphic-pairing-will-titillate-but-fails-to-satisfy)
4. [Source](http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/nymphomaniac-vol-ii-film)
5. [Source](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=196465.html?nopub=1)
6. filmportal.de
7. [Source](http://www.metacritic.com/movie/nymphomaniac-volume-i)
8. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1937390/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm)
9. [Source](http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/nymphomaniac-vol-i-film)
10. [Source](http://www.metacritic.com/movie/nymphomaniac-volume-ii)
11. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2382009/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm)
12. Danish Film Database
13. Freebase Data Dumps
14. [Source](http://nmhh.hu/dokumentum/166259/premierfilmek_forgalmi_adatai_2014.xlsx)
15. [Source](https://www.dst.dk/da/Statistik/emner/kultur-og-kirke/film-boeger-og-medier/biografer-og-film)
16. BBC Things
17. [Source](https://opendata.mkrf.ru/opendata/7705851331-register_movies/7/2163103)
18. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/nymphomaniac-i/)
19. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/nymphomaniac-ii/)
20. Entertainment Identifier Registry
21. Quora
22. [Source](https://www.information.dk/kultur/2013/12/dansk-film-dumper-mangfoldighed)