The Grand Illusion

What if love was a sickness? Or even worse, a cannibalistic impulse that can only be satisfied via utter consumption? Director Claire Denis follows these questions to their gruesome conclusions in this visceral portrayal of an all-consuming desire. When newlyweds Shane (Vincent Gallo) and June (Tricia Vessey) honeymoon in Paris, Shane secretly tracks down renowned neuroscientist Dr. Sémeneau (Alex Descas) and his wife, Coré (Béatrice Dalle), whom Shane once knew and was obsessed with. Coré suffers from a strange and savage sexual affliction, requiring her to be quarantined at all times. Shane quietly suffers from the same malady—a sickness more terrible than anyone can imagine—and can't help but be drawn to Coré, no matter how deadly the attraction proves to be. In English and French with English subtitles.

Part of our Love Stinks film series.

“Forever cemented in (or relegated to) the cultural annals of New French Extremity, Trouble Every Day contains its own brand of dream-like, drowsy fear—akin to the sensation of waking up in the middle of a hellish nightmare that’s so horrifying, you fall back asleep out of curiosity for just how gruesome it gets.” Natalia Keogan, Paste

“Watching Trouble Every Day, at least if you don’t know what’s coming, is like biting into what looks like a juicy, delicious plum on a hot summer day and coming away with your mouth full of rotten pulp and living worms… Whatever you make of Denis’ movies, she never wants you to leave the theater unmoved or unshaken. She wants to turn you on and mess you up. She wants – there’s no better way to say this – to fuck with your mind. And she’s always going to be the one on top.” Andrew O’Hehir, Salon