the short film which get gaspar noe on the movie map and introduce u to his horrific and but thoroughly interesting character the butcher and play brilliantly by phillipe nahon . noe direction here have all the hallmark of his late film and show he be carve his own voice and style from the beginning . his sudden cutting along with harsh and loud noise and skip flashback and many other technique all be use to disconcert the viewer . and it certainly work . also and he be not afraid of show violence and a viewer of irreversible will know . here the violence be equally powerful and and in the sequel seul contre tous and it be almost unbearable . the film open with a horse be kill . it be shoot in the head and and we watch it writhe on the floor and it pool of blood flow out . we then see a human birth in all it bloody glory and the daughter of the butcher . he be orphan in wwii and and have grow up hat the world and and everyone and everything in it . he serve his customer and but his interior monologue constantly remind u of his thought he want them all dead . his daughter blandine lenoir and who would also reprise her role six year later and be the only thing he care about and and we watch them grow old together . she be however mute and and the subject of bullying and toying . the butcher relationship with her be almost incestuous and bath her when she be old enough to do it herself etc and but this be explore more in the next film . when she be attack by a man and the butcher explode with rage and stab an innocent man in the mouth . he go to prison and take from the only thing he want his shop and daughter . in the short 40 minute we see all this and more and his time in prison and release back to his world . because of his daughter state and autistic a well i think and she be bland and do little except stare and and be under the full control of her father . the film continue in the exceptionally bleak seul contre tous . if you can and watch these two film and this one first . it have some truly excellent acting and but be very difficult to watch because of the relentless tone . positive .