Classics: Martyrs

Thanks to Martyrs, director Pascal Laugier was catapulted to the position of frontman of a group of controversial French filmmakers, dubbed ‘New French Extremity’ by the press. French journalists called Laugier fascist and perverse, but Martyrs grew into a cult hit, receiving rave reviews from genre film connoisseurs.

The film begins with the story of Lucie, a young woman who was kidnapped and severely abused as a child. Together with her childhood friend Anna, she takes revenge on the people responsible for her trauma. What starts as a seemingly straightforward reckoning soon unfolds into a ruthless descent into pain, trauma, and existential questions.

Warning: Martyrs is quite intense. But for those who dare, an intense and unforgettable viewing experience awaits, with a denouement that invites a long afterglow.