Joe continues to narrate to Seligman the story of her life as a nymphomaniac. This time, she focuses on her adult years—recounting tales of being a neglectful mother, her relationship to sadomasochism, and the situation that left her savagely beaten. Meanwhile, Seligman begins opening up to Joe.

Reunited with his Antichrist and Melancholia collaborator Charlotte Gainsbourg, Lars von Trier returns to the life of protagonist Jo to conclude what may well prove his magnum opus. A lofty work—less lusty, but still stark and shocking—rich in metaphor and psychological insight.