I purchased the DVD of Love Exposure a couple of years ago after reading a number of positive reviews, but never got around to watching it due to the sole reason that it is 237 minutes long. I held it off with the intention of waiting for the right moment where I would find both the time and the motivation to sit through it.
When the motivation came, my initial thought was that it would be one of those films where I would need to grind it out (albeit willingly), as I did with, for example, "La Maman et La Putain" by Jean Eustache, which is nearly as long. While I thoroughly enjoyed La Maman et La Putain, it was a draining experience for me.
I admit that I shouldn't be comparing two films made at completely different times, with different intentions, and from different cinematic cultures. However, if you are looking to watch a film without needing to will yourself into a particular frame of mind, and if we're discussing solely the length of a film, just don't let that put you off watching Love Exposure.
Putting the violence and perversion aside, Love Exposure is purely and simply an exploration of love in the context of humanity. There are a number of characters in the film with distinct histories who are at different stages of their lives, but their objective (to find love) is always the same, as the one thing that they share is their membership of humanity.
The film is complex in that it consists of several layers with a time progression of around 3 to 4 years, but it is by no means difficult to follow nor is it ever dull or exhausting. If anything, there was not one point throughout where I wanted to take my eyes off of the screen, as I was completely engrossed in the character developments into which the director Shion Sono had put so much effort. The beauty of the film lies in the discussion of love, which caters for the romantics as well as the cynics, or better still, the believers and the non-believers.
My intention is neither to add a spoiler nor to analyse the film to an extent where I might kill its enjoyment, but to convince those who read this to give the film a chance, if you happen to be someone who may be wary of its length, or even in a different language (if you are not a Japanese speaker).
I would be more than happy to watch this film again without hesitation, whereas I would not be able to say the same about the majority other films which exceed three hours.
When the motivation came, my initial thought was that it would be one of those films where I would need to grind it out (albeit willingly), as I did with, for example, "La Maman et La Putain" by Jean Eustache, which is nearly as long. While I thoroughly enjoyed La Maman et La Putain, it was a draining experience for me.
I admit that I shouldn't be comparing two films made at completely different times, with different intentions, and from different cinematic cultures. However, if you are looking to watch a film without needing to will yourself into a particular frame of mind, and if we're discussing solely the length of a film, just don't let that put you off watching Love Exposure.
Putting the violence and perversion aside, Love Exposure is purely and simply an exploration of love in the context of humanity. There are a number of characters in the film with distinct histories who are at different stages of their lives, but their objective (to find love) is always the same, as the one thing that they share is their membership of humanity.
The film is complex in that it consists of several layers with a time progression of around 3 to 4 years, but it is by no means difficult to follow nor is it ever dull or exhausting. If anything, there was not one point throughout where I wanted to take my eyes off of the screen, as I was completely engrossed in the character developments into which the director Shion Sono had put so much effort. The beauty of the film lies in the discussion of love, which caters for the romantics as well as the cynics, or better still, the believers and the non-believers.
My intention is neither to add a spoiler nor to analyse the film to an extent where I might kill its enjoyment, but to convince those who read this to give the film a chance, if you happen to be someone who may be wary of its length, or even in a different language (if you are not a Japanese speaker).
I would be more than happy to watch this film again without hesitation, whereas I would not be able to say the same about the majority other films which exceed three hours.