MovieChat Forums > Nymphomaniac: Vol. I (2014) Discussion > How 'bout that opening sequence, eh?

How 'bout that opening sequence, eh?

posted 9 years ago by TheMichael
2 replies | jump to latest

The rest of the movie is such a shock that everyone wants to talk about the sex or the abortion or the ending or Shia Labeouf. Either that or gloating their disapproval of the film over how little they understand it. But has anyone talked about the opening here? 'Cause I'd like to interject.

1. It's obviously a tribute to Andrei Tarkovsky. Much like Solaris' opening with shots of nature that the main character, who will go up into space on a potentially dangerous mission, may never see again.

2. How I interpret the beginning, and stop me if I'm wrong: It's about nature and what sounds nature makes in modern society. We hear squeaking of the fan, rain on a trashcan, wind on the little bolts on the circle thing. (shut up). Are these sounds pleasant to our ears or are they annoying? This is very much like Joe's situation. Her sexual drive, a product of her born nature, is taken as a nuisance in society. And on top of that the dripping of water symbolizing female lubrication, and the air vent (the vagina) and the unseen depths it can lead to.

3. The industrial German metal blasting right after is just kick ass!

[–] atsuinakada 9 years ago

I really enjoyed the intro. Your interpretations are very plausible. But for me I just liked the sounds and visuals of the opening scenes, but it did leave me wondering if it would lead to a room with the lead having intercourse or something more sinister and terrible like in a horror movie. But it just led us to a body lying in the alley--which happened to witness intercourse before passing out after being terribly beaten in a horrific (shocking) encounter. For me the Rammstein song only makes sense in the beginning scene when you find out what it means in English. Other than that it was too much in my opinion. I guess it was meant to jolt one out of the peaceful comfort of water features that could be found in gardens or other sounds that can be tranquil and relaxing to some. I just didn't think it worked that well.

[–] koalacanth 8 years ago

I like your interpretation. I think "what sounds nature makes in modern society" really hit the nail on the head for me.