self-harm and masochism

His films like 'Irréversible' and 'Climax' unflinchingly depict psychological and physical self-destruction, exploring trauma and suffering as central human experiences.

Works such as 'Antichrist' and 'Dancer in the Dark' explicitly examine self-harm, guilt, and masochistic suffering as responses to grief and despair.

His surrealist narratives probe psychological torment and self-inflicted pain, particularly in 'Eraserhead' and 'The Elephant Man,' where characters endure existential anguish.