New image from Lars Von Trier’s hardcore Nymphomaniac; film to be released in two parts

As Lars Von Trier releases another image from his upcoming pornographic opus Nympomaniac, we get the distinct impression this combination of eroticism and miserablism is sure to be controversial.

Ever the provocateur, Von Trier is playing with our expectations by releasing such a racially sharp, inciting still.

Charlotte Gainsbourg, after being put through the ringer in Von Trier’s last two pictures, plays the titular nymphomaniac who recounts her life story to Stellan Skarsgard after being found beaten and bloody in an alleyway.

Set to be released in both hardcore and softcore versions, this story will span two films after it was reported that Von Trier’s first cut ran well over seven hours. Yep, you read that right: seven hours of graphic, most likely unpleasant, sex.

Co-starring Uma Thurman, Christian Slater, Shia LaBeouf and Willem Dafoe, this genuinely bizarre exercise in art-house pornography looks set to make huge waves in late 2013.

Magnolia Pictures has acquired the U.S. distribution rights.