Light up the Void  

Destricted (2006) is an anthology film bringing together six contemporary directors around a common theme: sexuality through the lens of art and transgression. Each segment offers a different, often provocative, vision, oscillating between eroticism, social commentary, and formal experimentation.

Among these short films, Gaspar Noé's segment, titled “Irreversible: A Sin” (or sometimes referred to under other titles in the film's cut), stands out for its radical and immersive style. True to his signature style, Noé explores desire and sexuality head-on, blending visual provocations, frenetic camera movements, and oppressive soundscapes. His approach doesn't seek to seduce, but rather to provoke an intense sensory and psychological experience, confronting the viewer with the ambiguity between pleasure and unease.

The film as a whole, and Noah's segment in particular, has sparked debate and controversy: some see it as an artistic exploration of freedom and the representation of the body, while others perceive it as gratuitous provocation. Regardless, Destricted remains a striking example of contemporary avant-garde cinema, where each director imposes their vision on the limits of censorship, eroticism, and formal experimentation.

Technical specifications

Title : Restricted
Year of release: 2006
Gender : Experimental drama, Short film, Art and sexuality
Duration : Approximately 95 minutes (depending on the editing, each segment lasts between 8 and 20 minutes)
Format: Color, 35 mm / Digital
Country : United Kingdom / United States / France
Language : Primarily English, with some segments in French

Realization :

• Marina Abramović (Balkan Erotic Epic)
• Matthew Barney (Cremaster 4: The Cave of the Forgotten Dreams)
• Gaspar Noé (Irreversible: A Sin)
• Larry Clark (Impaled)
• Sam Taylor-Wood (Death Valley)
• Cecily Brown (Four Letter Heaven)

Scenario : Each segment is written and directed by its respective director, with a strong experimental dimension.

Music : Variable depending on the segment, often composed to accentuate sensory intensity (notably in Gaspar Noé).

Production :

• Producers: Marina Abramović, Larry Clark, and other producers associated with individual segments.
• Production companies: Tartan Films, Arsenal Filmverleih and others depending on the segment.

General Synopsis:
Destricted explores the links between art and sexuality through six short films by contemporary artists and filmmakers, confronting the viewer with provocative, erotic and often disturbing images, questioning censorship, the body and desire.

Gaspar Noé segment:

• Title: Irreversible: A Sin
• Style: immersive camera, fast movements, visual and sound provocations, direct confrontation with the viewer.
• Theme: sexuality, desire, transgression, a mixture of fascination and unease.