Cannes, France - Some 250 shocked and nauseous guests early on Friday walked out of the official screening of Cannes Film Festival French entry, Irreversible, which features an explicit 10-minute rape scene.
Around 20 people, mostly women, were sick and some needed oxygen while more than 200 of the 2 400 spectators walked out halfway through the screening of Gaspar Noe's film. But most of those who stayed gave it a five-minute standing ovation.
A fire brigade spokesperson who gave his name as Lieutenant General Courtel said: "In 25 years in my job I've never seen this at the Cannes Festival. The scenes in this film are unbearable, even for us professionals."
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The screening was attended by Italian actress Monica Bellucci who plays the rape victim, along with leading actors Vincent Cassel and Albert Dupontel. The film is in competition for the Golden Palm award, to be handed out on Sunday.
'The scenes in this film are unbearable, even for us professionals' As well as the sodomy and rape, there is a brutal murder with a fire extinguisher set in Rectum, a sado-masochistic gay club.
Several of the women who walked out told reporters they were angry that the film with its scenes of extreme and explicit violence had been selected for competition.
But Pierre Lescure, former president of Canal Plus, which co-produced Irreversible, described it as "a magnificent film".
Cinema personalities attended the screening, the first in the festival to take place at midnight, The film was released on Friday in France to audiences over the age of 16. - Sapa-AFP
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