Controversial film with 'most disturbing' scenes is rated NC-17 but fans say is a 'must watch'

A racy and steamy movie is nothing new, but one highly rated movie is being praised as a 'must watch'.

Films rated as an 18 or top-class rating usually mean a film will be extremely violent or have sexual scenes, and it's not often they're referred to as 'beautiful' or have fans begging people to see it.

The Dreamers, which was released in 2003, is rated NC-17 and contains full frontal nudity as well as themes of incest and violence.

Despite it's strong content, the movie also features a stellar cast with Louis Garrel, Matthew Pitt and James Bond star Eva Green, who previously opened up about the movie and revealed that filming the sex scenes was her first major role.

The film synopsis hints at the romance and sexual scenes in its complex storyline, as it explains: "In May 1968, the student riots in Paris only exacerbate the isolation felt by three youths: an American exchange student named Matthew (Michael Pitt) and twins Théo (Louis Garrel) and Isabelle (Eva Green).

Eva Green starred in The Dreamers released in 2003 (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

"Having bonded over their mutual love of cinema, Matthew is fascinated by the sense of intimacy shared by Isabelle and Theo, who were born conjoined.

"When the twins' bohemian parents go away for a month, they ask Matthew to stay at their place, and the three lose themselves in fantasy."

By 'fantasy', it means sex, incest and even one scene where Eva's character loses her virginity in the kitchen.

The movie comes in two versions, one NC-17 and the other R-rated, with a three-minute difference between the two.

Film critic Roger Ebert gave his view on the movie and the fact there's two versions, as he wrote: "So discredited is the NC-17 rating that Fox Searchlight at first thought to edit the film for an R, but why bother to distribute a Bertolucci film except in the form he made it?

"The sexual content evokes that time and place. The movie is like a classic argument for an A rating, between the R and NC-17, which would identify movies intended for adults but not actually pornographic."

On Reddit, another positive review hailed 'the beauty' of the movie. A post read: "The thing that grabbed me about this film was for starters the beauty. Bertolucci being an Italian, influenced by new wave french cinema, trying to appeal to a western audience understands the import for beauty. Yet while other director's find beauty where there is none, for example, a barren landscape or perhaps blood spatter shot in an aesthetically pleasing way, Bertolucci makes beauty essential to the story."

They added: "This is an excellent film, anyone who hasn't seen it must."

The Dreamers has divided viewers, with most claiming it's a 'must watch'. (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

On Instagram, another fan of the film posted: "The Dreamers (2003). Dir. Bernardo Bertolucci. A MUST watch!"

On film site Rotten Tomatoes, where The Dreamers has a rating of 59% on the Tomatometer and 78% on Popcornmeter, there are mixed reviews, with some baffled by the incest storyline and others praising the 'eroticism'.

One review wrote: "If it weren’t for these three dazzlingly beautiful people and their constant nudity, there would be nothing beyond beauty and eroticism."

"Erotic and somewhat artistic, but most of the time cringy!" said another.

However, another wrote: "An absolute french classic !! From beginning to end, the movie will give an everlasting impression."ffud A added: "In only 2 hours, this movie made me feel like i've lived in their world for the longest time, and this is a feeling i'm not always aware of with other movies."