Climax/Cannes 2018

Cannes 2018: Climax, Gaspar Noé’s Immersive Experiment

Written and directed by Gaspar Noé, Climax was presented on May 13, 2018, at the Cannes Film Festival in the Directors’ Fortnight, a parallel section held alongside the official selection. The film was later awarded the Art Cinema Award by the International Confederation of Art Cinemas (CICAE), marking one of the standout moments of the section.

At Cannes, Gaspar Noé discussed at length the origins and intentions behind the film, which follows a group of dancers whose celebration descends into chaos after their drinks are unknowingly spiked. The director explained that Climax was conceived without a traditional screenplay, relying instead on a minimal narrative framework and extensive improvisation by the performers, most of whom were professional dancers. This approach, he said, was designed to capture a raw, collective energy and reflect the spontaneous, uncontrollable nature of the events depicted.

Noé also emphasized his choice of an immersive visual style, built around long takes and a constantly moving camera, intended to place the viewer at the center of the experience. He described the film as a “roller coaster that turns into a haunted house ride,” highlighting the intensity and unpredictability of its progression.

Addressing his reputation as a provocateur, the filmmaker downplayed the label, citing influences such as Pasolini, Buñuel, and Fassbinder, and stating that he does not seek provocation for its own sake, but rather a direct confrontation with sensation, excess, and human limits.

Regarding the film’s reception, Noé acknowledged that he had expected a difficult critical response, given the divisive reactions to his previous films (Irreversible, Enter the Void, Love). He expressed surprise at the largely positive reception Climax received at Cannes, where he had anticipated far harsher reactions.

Accompanied by members of the cast and crew, Gaspar Noé engaged with the press around the film’s screening, although Climax did not have a formal official press conference comparable to those held for films in the main competition. The presentation was widely described as one of the festival’s most intense and sensory experiences, generating strong and sometimes divided reactions from audiences and critics alike.

Climax positions itself as an immersive experience, leaving interpretation to the viewer, at the intersection of collective euphoria, loss of control, and latent violence