Lars von Trier's “Nymphomaniac” unveils first cast photo

PanARMENIAN.Net - As part of Lars von Trier's slow reveal for his upcoming epic Nymphomaniac, production company Zentropa unveiled the first cast photo for the film as well as its release date: December 25, The Hollywood Reporter said.

The image, which went up online early Thursday, May 16 morning, is a porn-inspired tableau featuring the all-star cast in various compromising positions. Highlights include star Charlotte Gainsbourg, the self-diagnosed Nymphomaniac of the film's title, sitting on a chair with legs akimbo as an intense Christian Slater kneels before her. The shot also features a shirtless Shia LaBeouf and Willem Defoe with a compromising trouser stain. In the center of the picture stands Uma Thurman in a domina pose with her leg astride a table underneath which Udo Kier lies, looking up with apparent fear and awe.

In addition to evoking scenes from porno films, the image has the visual style of a religious painting from the High Renaissance. Von Trier has said repeatedly that religion is a key theme in the film, particularly the difference between the sexually repressive Catholic church and the more sensual Eastern Orthodox tradition.

In the background stands director von Trier with a digital camera and a gag of duct tape across his mouth -- a cheeky reference to his controversial Nazi comments in Cannes two years ago that provoked the festival to brand the Danish auteur a persona non grata.

The Cannes festival has since backtracked on its pronouncement, with festival director Thierry Fremaux claiming the ban was only for one year and that von Trier and his films would be welcomed back to Cannes in future.

Cannes apparently would not have been an option for Nymphomaniac in any case as it the first part of the film - it is planned as two full-length features - is still in post-production. Many had thought the feature will instead premiere at the Venice or Toronto film festivals but Zentropa said that instead, it has chosen to bow the movie first in Denmark. Local distributor Nordisk Film will hold a red carpet gala for the world premiere in Copenhagen in December ahead of a local release on Christmas, December 25.