Intimacy

Intimacy

Year: 2001

Runtime: 119 min

Language: English

Director: Patrice Chéreau

DramaAdultAdult

A struggling musician in London seeks solace from his difficult life through weekly, intimate encounters with a mysterious woman. As their relationship deepens, he becomes increasingly curious about her identity and background, jeopardizing their arrangement and forcing him to confront uncomfortable truths about himself and their connection.

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Timeline & Setting – Intimacy (2001)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Intimacy (2001). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

London, Grey suburbs of London

The story unfolds across an urban London setting, moving from a decrepit house to dim pubs and a pub theatre. The city’s grey, cramped streets amplify Jay’s isolation and yearning for connection. The London backdrop contrasts the routine of domestic life with clandestine, emotionally charged encounters.

🌆 Urban London 🏚️ Decaying housing 🎭 Theatre culture

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:25

Main Characters – Intimacy (2001)

Meet the key characters of Intimacy (2001), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Jay — Mark Rylance

A bartender who abandons his family after his wife loses interest. He lives alone in a decrepit London house and maintains a weekly, physically-based relationship with a woman whose identity remains hidden at first. Over time, his initial detachment gives way to emotional longing, driving him to pry into the woman’s life and challenge the boundaries of his own relationships.

🧔 Lonely 💔 Troubled 🔎 Obsessive

Claire — Kerry Fox

An actress working at a pub theatre who is married and a mother. She becomes the object of Jay’s affections, yet insists she will not abandon her family. Claire’s loyalty is tested as Jay’s pursuit disrupts her domestic life, and she confronts the consequences of continuing the affair.

🎭 Actress 💑 Family 🧭 Loyal

Andy

Claire’s husband, a black cab driver. He remains grounded in his family but is confronted with the knowledge or suspicion of the affair. Andy’s blunt demeanor and limited tolerance for threats to his marriage create tension and push Claire to make stark choices.

🚖 Husband 🗣️ Domestic life 🔄 Conflict

Leo

Claire and Andy’s son, who embodies the family’s vulnerable center. The presence of a child amplifies the stakes of adult decisions and highlights the emotional stakes of the couple’s relationship troubles.

👦 Son 🧷 Family 💭 Innocence

Ian

Jay’s junior barman who becomes involved in the shifting dynamics of Jay’s life. He observes, learns, and subtly influences the course of events, including Jay’s decisions around the affair.

🍺 Bartender 🧭 Observant 🧠 Insight

Victor

Jay’s deadbeat friend who arrives unexpectedly and stirs trouble. His presence destabilizes Jay’s already fragile life, and his provocations contribute to the climactic tensions surrounding Jay’s relationships.

🧭 Friend 🗯️ Blunt ⚡ Trouble

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:25

Major Themes – Intimacy (2001)

Explore the central themes of Intimacy (2001), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Infidelity

The narrative centers on an affair that begins as a physical arrangement but deepens into emotional attachment. It probes the tension between desire and fidelity, and the consequences when secrecy corrodes trust. Claire’s commitment to her husband clashes with Jay’s growing obsession, highlighting the damage of hidden relationships.

🌆 Urban Loneliness

Set against a sprawling city, the film uses London’s urban landscape to illustrate isolation and disconnection. Jay’s decrepit home and routine weekly meetings underscore a sense of emptiness despite constant proximity to others. The city acts as a pressure cooker for longing and unfulfilled needs.

🔎 Secrets & Pursuit

Jay’s relentless pursuit of Claire drives the plot, including following her and uncovering limited truths about her life. The pursuit reveals how appearances can mask deeper realities, and how crossing boundaries can lead to personal reckoning. The secrecy surrounding the affair strains every relationship involved.

🎭 Performance & Truth

The film blurs performance and reality, especially in Claire’s acting life and the facades people maintain in relationships. Power dynamics shift as Jay and Andy navigate trust, loyalty, and conflict. The tension between outward appearances and private feelings propels the characters toward difficult, irreversible choices.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:25

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Intimacy Summary

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Intimacy Summary

Intimacy Timeline

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Intimacy Timeline

More About Intimacy

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