Controversial horror film with real life sex scene handed 'anti-award' at one of the biggest film festivals

**Warning: Descriptions of violence and gore.**

A film which premiered at one of the world's biggest film festivals was awarded the 'anti-award' because it was so controversial.

Some say all publicity is good publicity, whether good or bad, and one film has proven that this can be the case.

A 2009 horror art film written and directed by Lars von Trier premiered at Cannes Film Festival in 2009.

Starring Spider-Man's Willem Dafoe and Alphonse's Charlotte Gainsbourg, the movie tells the story of a couple who lose their son in an accident and go to a secluded cabin in the woods to reconnect - their experience turns sexual and very violent.

Oh, and the woman eventually snips off her clitoris - men, if you don't know what that means or where it's located, here you go; you can thank me later.

While the film has a decent 55 per cent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and 54 per cent on the Tomatometer, that shouldn't deceive you about how controversially it was received when it was first released.

But why?

Zentropa Entertainments

Well, some viewers had an issue with the real-life sex which takes place in the movie - titled Antichrist.

According to the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), the film is 'clearly adult in theme and tone from the outset, including strong images of real sex, bloody violence, strong gory images, and a scene of self-mutilation'.

The 'strong' real sex shows 'unsimulated penetration' as well as 'images of genital contact', which led the film to be rated an 18, as well as some outrage to erupt at the time, with the BBFC reporting various people even walked out during screenings.

Despite this, the movie didn't miss out on an award when it premiered at Cannes.

Zentropa Entertainments

In the 2009 film festival, Antichrist was ultimately awarded the 'anti-award'.

At the time, Radu Mihaileanu, a French filmmaker and head of an international jury at the film festival, said: "We cannot be silent after what that movie does.

"Antichrist is the most misogynist movie from the self-proclaimed biggest director in the world."

However, Cannes festival director Thierry Fremaux responded, calling the resolution a 'ridiculous decision that borders on a call for censorship, (it is) scandalous coming from an "ecumenical" jury which what is more is headed by a filmmaker' to AFP.

And while the film didn't receive any necessarily positive accolades, Gainsborough was named Best Actress in Cannes for Antichrist.

Topics: Film and TV, Entertainment, World News, Sex and Relationships, Mental Health

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.