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Love Exposure

Ai no mukidashi

Japan

2008

237 Min
Color
1.85:1
Japanese
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
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DIR Sion Sono

EXEC Shin'ya Kawai, Toyoyuki Yokohama

PROD Yutaka Morohashi

SCR Sion Sono

DP Souhei Tanigawa

CAST Takahiro Nishijima, Hikari Mitsushima, Sakura Andô, Makiko Watanabe, Atsuro Watabe, Hiroyuki Onoue, Yutaka Shimizu, Tasuku Nagoaka, Sô Hirosawa, Yuko Genkaku, Mami Nakamura

ED Jun'ichi Itô

PROD DES Takashi Matsuzuka

MUSIC Tomohide Harada

SOUND Yasushi Eguchi, Hajime Komiya

Berlinale (Forum): FIPRESCI Prize, Karlovy Vary (Another View), Melbourne (Neighbourhood Watch), Helsinki (Avainelokuvat), !F Istanbul (Fantastic Films), BAFICI (Nocturna)

Synopsis

Director Sion Sono has promised that his four hour epic Love Exposure feels like 90 minutes. Unbelievably, Sono delivers on his promise with an extraordinary genre-bending epic about a self-professed “high school voyeuristic photo maniac.”

Teenager Yu Honda (Takahiro Nishijima) never expected to live the life of a peeping tom – his pious Catholic existence consisted of good works and good deeds. That all changed the day his father, a newly appointed Catholic priest, fell in love with the most promiscuous member of his church. Once this woman abandons the priest, he becomes increasingly severe, demanding that his son confess his every sin. To reconnect with his father through the act of confession, Yu embraces a life of sin. Swiftly, he progresses from committing such terrible crimes as stepping on some ants to leading a gang of thugs around Tokyo to snap panty shots of unsuspecting girls. In his determined effort to become ever more sinful, the ever faithful Yu gains the moniker, “The King of the Perverts.” During his escapades, the master voyeur falls in love with his ideal Virgin Mary, Yoko (Hikari Mitsushima). Much to the delight of the wide-eyed Yu, the thought of the beautiful Yoko sparks his first erection. Unfortunately, the presence of the malevolent Christian cult Zero Church, coupled with Yoko’s love for Yu’s transvestite alter ego Madame Scorpion, stand in the way of his true and pure romance!

Beyond the oddly affecting love story at its core, Sion Sono’s Love Exposure presents a biting assessment of contemporary Japan as a hyper-surveillant society deeply troubled by an increasingly fractured identity. Orwell, Powell, manga, and just a dash of Kill Bill collide in this one-of-a-kind exhilarating production that continually surprises while making a convincing case for the merits of the four hour narrative film.

Director

Original

Sion Sono

Sion Sono (園 子温 Sono Shion, born 1961) is a controversial filmmaker and poet. He was born in Toyokawa, Aichi, Japan and is best known for his movies and avant-garde poetry performances.

After receiving a fellowship with the PIA, Sono made his first feature-length 16 mm film in 1990, Bicycle Sighs (Jitensha Toiki), which he co-wrote, directed, and starred himself. A coming-of-age tale about two underachievers in the perfectionist Japan, Bicycle Sighs settled Sono as a director with great box office success in Japan, and for nearly two years was played over 30 film festivals around Europe and Asia. In 1992, Sono’s second feature film The Room (Heya), also written by himself, a bizarre tale about a serial killer looking for a room in a bleak, doomed Tokyo district, participated at the Tokyo Sundance Film Festival and won the Special Jury Prize. The Room also toured on 49 festivals worldwide, including the Berlin Film Festival and… read more

Wall

Displaying 4 of 72 wall posts.
Picture of João MC Palhares

João MC Palhares

1May13

What a load of crap.

Tiago Costa and Jack Lehtonen like this

Picture of James Werick

James Werick

1May13

my favorite movie :3

Picture of the.deft.one

the.deft.one

24Feb13

A perverse yet surprisingly tender love story; a unique, standalone, outrageously ambitious oddity; a four hour marathon not short on thematic ideas; cult religion, traditional religion, sexual discovery, family, deceit, samurai swords and voyeuristic photography all feature. Exhausting, immersive and presented so confidently – love it.

Picture of Sunrise

Sunrise

29Jan13

Sono clarifies that it is not enough for one to declare the 'truth' to one's self (as it arrives through deceptive force). Nor is it enough for one to actualize another as we believe them to be (Yoko actually misdirected in her beliefs, or Yu actually enacting the identity of Miss Scorpion). Only when eyes see beyond these culturally-crafted illusions, can love break the barriers that separates lovers and "siblings."

Related Films

Fans

Displaying 5 of 611 fans.

Articles

Our roundup of essays and articles on this film.
W184

Sion Sono, Coast to Coast

By David Hudson on September 2, 2011

The four-hour whatsit Love Exposure reappears in New York and San Francisco.

read article
W184

Zellneroids! Plus ND/NF and Other Fests and Events

By David Hudson on April 1, 2010

"Austin's most prolific fraternal pairing, the Zellner Bros, are men of many accents," writes Kimberley Jones, introducing her brief interview

read article
W184

Issues. Criticine, Experimental Conversations, Midnight Eye, More

By David Hudson on January 30, 2010

Love Letters is the issue of Criticine that Alexis Tioseco was working on when he and Nika Bohinc were murdered last September. "One thing

read article
W184

The Auteurs Daily: Issues

By David Hudson on November 1, 2009

"Like most issues of Bright Lights, this one doesn't have a particular theme, though we wish you readers would start referring to our approach

read article
W184

Upskirts for Christ: A Discussion About "Love Exposure"

By Joe Bowman on July 9, 2009

Two critics explore Sion Sono’s insane Love Exposure in dialog.

read article
W184

HKIFF 2009: Comedy Trumps Religion, But Humanity Wins Out Over All

By Nick Palevsky on April 27, 2009

Above: Sono Sion's Love Exposure. Two incidents in a friend’s life inspired Sono Sion to make Love Exposure, according to the Hong Kong International

read article

NYC Happenings: Sono's LOVE EXPOSURE Releases At Cinema Village Sept. 2nd!

By Twitchfilm.com on December 17, 2011
Long been a favorite around these parts, Sion Sono’s gonzo epic on love and madness, is finally getting a proper theatrical run in New York City thanks to Olive Films, which means…  press release!New York
read on Twitchfilm.com

Sono's LOVE EXPOSURE, Fassbinder's DESPAIR, and Goddard's HISTOIRE(S) DU CINEMA From Olive Films Fall/Winter 2011

By Twitchfilm.com on October 14, 2011
We are really excited to announce a few titles coming from Olive Films on home video this fall/winter.  First up is 2008 Twitch favorite, Sion Sono’s Love Exposure.  The film took its sweet time getting
read on Twitchfilm.com

Fantasia 09 Review: LOVE EXPOSURE

By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
[Our thanks to Lauren Baggett for the following review.] First off, to answer some of the most common questions about Sion Sono’s newest opus. Yes, it’s really four hours long with no intermission (we
read on Twitchfilm.com

Reminder to UK Readers: Sion Sono's LOVE EXPOSURE opens this Friday!

By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
That’s right, starting this Friday, October 30th, Third Window films will be releasing Sion Sono’s 4 hour up-skirt photog.etc. etc. epic at the ICA cinema in London. After running the festival gauntlet
read on Twitchfilm.com

LOVE EXPOSURE: Another Take

By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
[Our thanks to Greg Christie for the following.] This may possibly be one of the most difficult films a person could possibly sit down and write about or review. If you’re a regular here at Twitch, chances
read on Twitchfilm.com

NYAFF 09 Review: LOVE EXPOSURE

By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
[Our thanks to Ben Umstead for the following review.] Sold out show. Standby line. Director Sion Sono in person. A crowd from 18-80: men, women, White, Asian, Black, Latino, everybody, anybody with a taste
read on Twitchfilm.com

Sion Sono's masterpiece: LOVE EXPOSURE Review

By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
No doubt that Love Exposure will become Sion Sono’s ultimate masterpiece. The movie every film critic will refer to when his name is mentioned. And even though Love Exposure is not my favorite Sono film
read on Twitchfilm.com

Finally! LOVE EXPOSURE Comes To U.S Shores

By Twitchfilm.com on May 12, 2011
Sion Sono’s mad, manic, gloriously crafted opus Love Exposure is collectively one of our favorite films we’ve covered here at Twitch over the last couple of years. It’s played at a number of festivals
read on Twitchfilm.com

Hey LA! Wanna Win Tickets To See Sion Sono's LOVE EXPOSURE?

By Twitchfilm.com on May 12, 2011
Holy Mother of God, it is more Love Exposure goodness. As we’ve already stated today, Sion Sono’s under-seen masterpiece on true love, up-skirt photography, cults and Catholicism is finally getting a U
read on Twitchfilm.com

Sion Sono's LOVE EXPOSURE Coming To Toronto August 21st!

By Twitchfilm.com on April 29, 2011
Do. Not. Miss. This.The Canada Japan Society and the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre are proud to present the Toronto premiere of one of the most acclaimed and controversial Japanese films of the last
read on Twitchfilm.com

Win Sion Sono's LOVE EXPOSURE On DVD!

By Twitchfilm.com on April 29, 2011
Third Window Films released their double disc DVD set of Sion Sono’s much loved Love Exposure last week and are now offering up three copies to lucky Twitch readers. You want one? Of course you do. Just
read on Twitchfilm.com

Sion Sono's LOVE EXPOSURE Coming To Toronto August 21st!

By Twitchfilm.net on August 16, 2010
Do. Not. Miss. This.The Canada Japan Society and the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre are proud to present the Toronto premiere of one of the most acclaimed and controversial Japanese films of the last
read on Twitchfilm.net

NYAFF 09 Review: LOVE EXPOSURE

By Twitchfilm.net on July 17, 2010
[Our thanks to Ben Umstead for the following review.] Sold out show. Standby line. Director Sion Sono in person. A crowd from 18-80: men, women, White, Asian, Black, Latino, everybody, anybody with a taste
read on Twitchfilm.net

LOVE EXPOSURE: Another Take

By Twitchfilm.net on July 17, 2010
[Our thanks to Greg Christie for the following.] This may possibly be one of the most difficult films a person could possibly sit down and write about or review. If you’re a regular here at Twitch, chances
read on Twitchfilm.net

Fantasia 09 Review: LOVE EXPOSURE

By Twitchfilm.net on July 17, 2010
[Our thanks to Lauren Baggett for the following review.] First off, to answer some of the most common questions about Sion Sono’s newest opus. Yes, it’s really four hours long with no intermission (we
read on Twitchfilm.net

Reminder to UK Readers: Sion Sono's LOVE EXPOSURE opens this Friday!

By Twitchfilm.net on July 17, 2010
That’s right, starting this Friday, October 30th, Third Window films will be releasing Sion Sono’s 4 hour up-skirt photog.etc. etc. epic at the ICA cinema in London. After running the festival gauntlet
read on Twitchfilm.net

Win Sion Sono's LOVE EXPOSURE On DVD!

By Twitchfilm.net on July 17, 2010
Third Window Films released their double disc DVD set of Sion Sono’s much loved Love Exposure last week and are now offering up three copies to lucky Twitch readers. You want one? Of course you do. Just
read on Twitchfilm.net

Sion Sono's masterpiece: LOVE EXPOSURE Review

By Twitchfilm.net on July 17, 2010
No doubt that Love Exposure will become Sion Sono’s ultimate masterpiece. The movie every film critic will refer to when his name is mentioned. And even though Love Exposure is not my favorite Sono film
read on Twitchfilm.net

Lists

Displaying 5 of 210 lists.

Reviews

Displaying 4 of 4

Love Exposure

By Damian on May 12, 2013

Cult director Shion Sono’s four hour epic on the human condition and the nature of love has to be one of the greatest films of modern times, and certainly of the 21st century. This is a love story…  read review

Epically Religious; Epically Perverse

By Mr. Arkadin on January 23, 2012

What a deeply weird, deeply perverse film. And not just perverse for the obvious reasons—the upskirt/“King of the Perverts” subplot—but a more profound, emotional perversity that so many of the characters…  read review

An Epic Biblical Love Story

By Andhika Eka Buana on February 6, 2010

Who could have makes a plot about peek-a-panty, cult religion, transgender, psychopath, and christianity, cramped into an almost 4 hours film, didn’t get any ridicoulous ? Sion Sono could. Love Exposure…  read review

Untitled

By Ally the Manic Listmak​er on November 29, 2009

One of the best Japanese movies to date. Sion Sono beats Quentin Tarantino at his own game and is creative and original besides. The film gets a little over the top and could possibly be trimmed down…  read review

Forum

Displaying 3 discussion topics.

Love Exposure - I'm excited, are you?

19 posts by 10 people over 1 year ago

US Distributor?

3 posts by 3 people about 3 years ago

Ehem... sorry

5 posts by 2 people over 3 years ago