The world's end was the theme of Lars von Trier's last grand epic, "Melancholia", winning him and Kirsten Dunst the Best Actress award in Cannes in 2011. Now von Trier is ready to shoot his next film "Nymphomaniac" in Germany, with productions starting up on 28 August.
"Nymphomaniac" is the story of a woman's erotic journey from birth to the age of 50 as told by the main character, the self-diagnosed nymphomaniac Joe.
On a cold winter's evening the old, charming bachelor Seligman finds Joe beaten up in an alley. He brings her home to his flat where he cares for her wounds while asking her about her life. He listens intently as Joe recounts the story of her life, rich in associations and interjecting incidents.
With "Nymphomaniac" Lars von Trier wishes to transfer "previously unseen qualities from the world of literature" and to create "a monumental film about the female erotic desire". See press release from TrustNordisk
Joe will be played by Charlotte Gainsbourg and Seligman by Stellan Skarsgård. Other names on the preliminary cast list are Stacy Martin (as young Joe), Shia Labeouf, Jamie Bell, Connie Nielsen, Mia Goth, Jens Albinus, Severin von Hoensbroech, Peter Gilberg Cotton, Nicolas Bro, Tabea Tarbiat, Janine Romanowski, Jesper Christensen, Tania Carlin, Felicity Gilbert and Shanti Roney.
Due to reasons of censorship "Nymphomaniac" will be distributed in different versions with sex scenes performed with the help of body doubles and visual effects.
"Nymphomaniac" is produced by Louise Vesth for Zentropa in co-production with Zentropa International Köln, Slot Machine and Caviar and with support from the Danish Film Institute. International sales are handled by TrustNordisk.
The shooting is scheduled to last 11 weeks and will take place in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, and for a shorter period in Flanders, Belgium. The film is expected to release in 2013.