The House That Jack Built (Lars von Trier, 2018)

[Oedipax]

The part of the film alluded to by the poster was definitely its strongest section for me - Von Trier stepping outside what has felt like a bit of an aesthetic rut for his last several films. I found the movie as a whole to be a little tedious although it's not without interest. I can't really get behind either the 1 or 5 star reviews for this one, and some of the apocalyptic reactions out of Cannes seem absurd to me -

Spoiler

although I do think the use of Holocaust imagery in the film's meta-essay context is edging up pretty close to the line of tastelessness and exploitation.

[mfunk9786]

Do you mind if I ask where you saw it? Didn't realize it had played anywhere else since Cannes.

[Oedipax]

I saw it at the satellite Cannes event in Paris, which is open to the public. It's held every year at the Gaumont Opéra during the last 3 days of the festival (although this year, because the festival ended on Saturday, it ran Fri-Sat-Sun, so technically finished one day after the official closing). Films are generally only shown once each, and mostly come from the Competition - it's a toss-up which films actually end up playing, and the line-up is generally only announced a few days before the screenings, so if you (like me) make travel plans to be there, there's no guarantee you'll get all the films you wanted. Afterwards, there are other satellite events for Un Certain Regard and the Quinzaine (held at Reflet Médicis and Forum des Images, respectively, also open to everyone) that are generally more complete, although this year Long Day's Journey Into Night ended up not playing because the theater wasn't equipped to screen 3D and the 2D version wasn't ready yet.

[mfunk9786]

A-ha! It sounded a bit more recent than that, that's what made me curious.

[Feego]

Some new posters for the movie (one is NSFW, all are weird).

[Never Cursed]

Per IFC's instagram, this won't see a stateside release till next year

[mfunk9786]

It's also not playing at the Philadelphia Film Festival, even though they have traditionally had a great relationship with IFC. I'm sure this will all eventually end up with a Criterion release, but boy oh boy is it a long road to get there. Would like to just see this thing.

[mfunk9786]

Looks as though this will be censored for the U.S. theatrical run, as IFC Center will be showing the "director's cut" for one night only then beginning to run the "R-rated version" December 14th. Guess the release date was moved back to December again(?) too. Batting a thousand, IFC!

Anyone have more info on the changes?

EDIT: Indiewire confirms

EDIT 2: Looks like they're doing the same one night only director's cut screening nationwide, theaters listed here, all appear to be on Wednesday, November 28th.

[Big Ben]

That's really weird. I cannot fathom why they'd do this. I would think that people who would actively seek this out would be actively aware of it's content and would prefer it the way von Trier originally put it together.

[tenia]

I've seen people going blindly to Cronenberg's A History of Violence with obviously no clue about the exact content of what they were about to see, only to storm out after the first burst of violence happened. Though the movie was only rated 12+ in France (while the classification of The House is much higher in the States) I've since understood to never underestimate the viewers' lack of knowledge of what they came to see.
About the Cronenberg, it was received quite positively in France, including some magazines that are rather for the general audience, I suppose it just drawn out some people who were curious to see the latest movie à la mode.

[mfunk9786]

My guess is that it's all about maximizing the money they can make on it, considering it might not be the hugest draw. We'll likely see:

- 'One night only' director's cut in theaters
- R-rated regular theatrical release to maximize the theaters that'll play it
- R-rated barebones Blu-ray from IFC
- Unrated and fully featured Blu-ray from Criterion

That's going to maximize the money they can wring out of the relatively small group of people who are fans of the film, since it's likely that most won't be. But perhaps I'm being too cynical.

EDIT: One more detail I left out - this will also be On Demand on 12/14.

[tenia]

It doesn't seem so much cynical than just based on past similar scenarios, but I'm wondering if people aren't just going to cherry pick what they feel is best for them (or most pratical) and manage to avoid any double dipping and over-spending. I don't doubt some fans will be happy seeing the unrated cut in theaters and then buying both releases because of eagerness, but I wonder if they're that numerous.

[mfunk9786]

The mere fact that they aren't that numerous is what leads me to believe that IFC is just (wisely, I suppose) trying to wring as much as they can out of this. Has any von Trier film made a substantial amount of money in the U.S.?

[swo17]

Screw it, I'll just import from the UK

[domino harvey]

In the unrated version, he goes 8% farther for his family

[Zot!]

Nymphomaniac was also edited (without von Trier input, but with his approval), and then released later as a directors cut.

As has been mentioned before, I imagine this is the typical studio attempt to milk it for every penny. I don't think the von Trier films are blockbusters in the US, but they apparently do well enough to always pre-sell at film markets.

[Finch]

Have IFC submitted this to the MPAA already or are they making an assumption that the film as screened in May won't get past the MPAA unscathed? It'll be interesting to see what the BBFC's reaction is going to be. I imagine they'll pass it, including

Spoiler

the murder of the two boys

(presumably this is what IFC might be thinking of if they expect a pushback from the MPAA).

The French rating system has to be the most lenient in existence.

[domino harvey]

I mean, decades ago the French film system allowed some rather notorious posters for Bertrand Blier's Beau-père to be openly displayed (don't Google this), so I think they operate on another plane of existence

[Big Ben]

If the BBFC will tolerate the most explicit violence in Antichrist and the explicit sex in both part of Nymphomaniacs at at 18 level I don't think they'll have an issue with this.

[mfunk9786]

Can't find any record of the MPAA assigning a rating to it, so perhaps that cut is something that's currently being resubmitted to avoid an NC-17, since IFC has confidently said the regular release will be rated R - can't find another runtime outside of the 155 minutes, either, including the Artificial Eye Blu

[Cinephile1]

I was wondering whether anybody here knows what is the earliest worldwide DVD release for this. Earliest I can find for the time being is 4 March 2019 (in the U.K.). Thanks!

[mfunk9786]

That appears to be the one. It's possible it'll be earlier in the U.S. since the On Demand release is so early, but that's TBD

[mfunk9786]

One report saying over one hundred people have walked out as of now.

Incredible. You couldn't ask for better advertising fodder

Domino, you are a clairvoyant - here's IFC's official trailer for the uncut screenings

SEE THE FILM THAT EARNED HUNDREDS OF WALKOUTS AT THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL
*footage of Matt Dillon aiming a sniper rifle at a child*
AND A 10 MINUTE STANDING OVATION

\:D/

[domino harvey]

Reminder that the one night only screening of the director's cut is this Wednesday

[FrauBlucher]

Reminder that the one night only screening of the director's cut is this Wednesday

At the IFC Theater in NY, 4 of the 5 screening times are sold out. The 4PM show has some tickets still available. Matt Dillon will intro 2 of the shows.