Lagerlout’s review published on Letterboxd:
My God, what a ride.
I had mentally prepared myself for this for about five months or so, but I still don't know if I was prepared for just how cerebral it was. I should have known. If anyone has had a fleeting encounter with a Von Trier film, you know it won't be something you can easily forget. Even his "comedy" (and my God I use that word lightly) The Boss Of It All is something that sticks with you. And Nymphomaniac sticks and sticks and sticks.
There is so much to say about the film, I don't know if I can say it coherently, so here are a few little bits that I've been mulling over for the past few hours:
One of the most astounding things about this film is how intellectual it was. I thought it would be a hump-fest full of close ups of genitals and not much else. There was so much discussion about the mind, addiction, lust and love and the very essence of human experience. To make you question your judgements about sexuality and appetites for sex is a tough ask, and this is so in your face it's overwhelming. And let's talk about the sex. It's so unsexy, it's almost unbelievable. If anyone can come out of this film aroused, then I suppose it says much more about their personality than the nature of the film. I remember when I finished watching Steve McQueen's Shame, I felt so incredibly unsexy and completely not turned on. The opposite - I was repulsed by my sexual urges, for I didn't want to equate those pleasurable feelings with those of the film. My own sexual desire is, I think, quite healthy. But you can't help but implant yourself into the shoes of everyone within the film, be they whore or virgin.
Another wonderful aspect was the location of the film. It was shot in Cologne, in itself a twisted city full of dark history, yet they use the pound as currency. Everyone has a strange accent, not of one place and the setting could be the UK, but it has that oddly germanic feel to it. It's as if it's an alternate, perverse version of the cities we know. It's darker side, reflected in the incredibly restrained performance of Joe. It felt like the world you knew about, but had never seen.
I saw this film back to back with Part 2 which I am still gathering my thoughts over. All I know is, I'm so glad there was a brief ten minute intermission, I don't think I have the strength to watch the entire thing for it's intended running time. Could anyone? I'd love to know.