Every Wednesday. She meets him once a week.|Jan. 20, 2001|France | United Kingdom | Germany|119 Min.|R
Genre: Adult;Drama;Romance
Description: Jay, a bartender played by Rylance, left his family after his wife lost interest in their relationship. Now living alone in a rundown house, he engages in weekly casual encounters with an anonymous woman, played by Fox, whose name he doesn’t know. Initially, their relationship is purely physical, but Jay eventually develops feelings for her.
Driven by curiosity, Jay follows her through London’s streets to her suburban home. He discovers she works as an actress at a pub theater in the evenings. Learning her name is Claire, he also finds out she has a husband, portrayed by Timothy Spall, and a son. It becomes clear that Claire has no intention of leaving her family. They meet one last time, sharing a moment of genuine intimacy that was absent in their previous encounters.
The film “Intimacy” explores the story of a man and a woman who meet every Wednesday for brief, anonymous, and intense encounters. They avoid names and small talk, keeping their relationship strictly physical.
At the 2001 Sundance screening, Kristina Nordstrom, who organizes the Women Filmmakers’ Symposium in Los Angeles, shared her perspective: “No woman would be drawn to such encounters. A woman would be turned off by a man who doesn’t show tenderness, care, or foreplay. The film’s portrayal of relationships reflects a male director’s viewpoint.”
Mark Rylance’s character, Jay, is a former musician, a divorced father, and a bartender living in a sparsely furnished home. In one scene, he expresses frustration with a new bar assistant, who is an actor between jobs rather than a professional bartender.
“Intimacy” is a bold but not entirely insightful film that delves into the complexities of human connections and emotions.
Cast director: Patrice Chéreau
Cast actor: Mark Rylance, Kerry Fox, Timothy Spall, Alastair Galbraith, Marianne Faithfull, Susannah Harker, Joe Prospero, Fraser Ayres, Philippe Calvario, Robert Addie
Original name: Intimacy