Graphic Movie Controversy Looms

Northern Ireland cinema audiences are being urged to make up their own minds about a shocking new film.

From provocative Danish director Lars Von Trier, Antichrist, will screen exclusively at south Belfast's QFT from this Friday, 14th to the 27th August.

Already described as "the most shocking film in the history of the Cannes Film Festival", Antichrist (pictured) is being released in the UK on a wave of simultaneous critical acclaim and derision.

However, the movie garnered a Best Actress Award for Charlotte Gainsbourg at Cannes and has been given an 18 certificate and was passed completely uncut by the British Board of Film Classification.

Noting that people should make their own minds up about the film, Susan Picken, Head of QFT said: "There is no doubt that Antichrist is a controversial film but it's part of the remit of QFT to present the works of talented directors such as Lars Von Trier in their original form exactly as the director intended.

"Antichrist offers an incredible cinematic experience - however it is not a film for the faint hearted," she warned.

The story relates to the events that follow a child's tragic death and the reaction of the heartbroken parents (played by Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg).

They retreat to their woodland hideaway, she to confront her fears and work through her grief, and he to be her support and ad-hoc therapist.

But, alone in the wilderness, the couple soon encounter a kind of raw kind of nature and this elemental presence rapidly begins to exert a malevolent influence on the couple's relationship, and their underlying psychological tensions soon manifest as extremely graphic physical violence.

Speaking after its showing at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, Lars von Trier, director of Antichrist said: "I can offer no excuse for Antichrist. Other than my absolute belief in the film – the most important film of my entire career."

See: www.queensfilmtheatre.com

(BMcC/KMcA)