Love Exposure
Encyclopedia
is a 2008 Japanese film
written and directed by Sion Sono
. The film gained a considerable amount of notoriety in film festivals around the world for its four-hour duration and themes including love, family, lust, religion and the art of upskirt
photography. The first version was originally six hours long, but was trimmed at the request of the producers. Following its release, it won many awards and positive reviews. At the Berlin International Film Festival
, it won the Caligari Film Award and the FIPRESCI Prize.
Yu is taught by his new friends to steal, fight, and take stealth photographs up women's skirts. Yu promptly becomes a skilled "panty shot" photographer. He is perceived as a pervert, but he is never aroused by these photographs.
After Yu loses a bet with his friends, he agrees to go into the city dressed as a woman and kiss a girl he likes. When they go into the city, Yu and his friends come across a young teenage girl named Yoko, who is surrounded by a group of thugs. Yu, still dressed as a woman, then helps Yoko beat up the gang of thugs. Afterwards he kisses Yoko and runs away. He falls in love with her - the first time he's been in love with a girl - but Yoko falls for his disguise and develops feelings for his alter ego Sasori, or "Miss Scorpion".
Meanwhile, Yu is being followed by Aya Koike, a member of the cult group "Zero Church", who has become infatuated with him after she catches him taking a picture of her panties. Aya, who we are shown was sexually abused to the point that she became psychotic and set out on a series of violence sprees, including shooting every student in her class and cutting her father's penis off, devises a plan to bring Yu's entire family into the Zero Church, planning to gain the favour of Yoko by masquerading as Sasori.
Berlin International Film Festival
Fant-Asia Film Festival
Hochi Film Awards
Kinema Junpo Awards
Mainichi Film Concours
Yokohama Film Festival
The film was also nominated for the following awards:
Asia Pacific Screen Awards
Asian Film Awards
Cinema of Japan
The has a history that spans more than 100 years. Japan has one of the oldest and largest film industries in the world – as of 2009 the fourth largest by number of feature films produced. Movies have been produced in Japan since 1897, when the first foreign cameramen arrived...
written and directed by Sion Sono
Sion Sono
is a controversial Japanese filmmaker and poet. He was born in Toyokawa, Aichi, Japan, and is best known for his films as well as avant-garde poetry performances.-Early career:...
. The film gained a considerable amount of notoriety in film festivals around the world for its four-hour duration and themes including love, family, lust, religion and the art of upskirt
Upskirt
Upskirt refers to the practice of making unauthorized photographs under a female's skirt, capturing an image of her crotch area and underwear. The term "upskirt" can also refer to a video, illustration or photograph which incorporates the upskirt image. The term is also sometimes used to refer...
photography. The first version was originally six hours long, but was trimmed at the request of the producers. Following its release, it won many awards and positive reviews. At the Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
, it won the Caligari Film Award and the FIPRESCI Prize.
Plot
The story follows Yu Honda, a young teenage Catholic attempting to live his life in a faithful and orderly manner. His father, Tetsu, has become a devout Catholic priest following the death of Yu's mother, and operates his own church. Yu's father asks Yu to confess his sins, but Yu believes he is a good person, who has little to confess. At first he makes up sins, but his father sees right through him, and Yu sets out to commit real sins. Because of this, he falls in with a questionable crowd.Yu is taught by his new friends to steal, fight, and take stealth photographs up women's skirts. Yu promptly becomes a skilled "panty shot" photographer. He is perceived as a pervert, but he is never aroused by these photographs.
After Yu loses a bet with his friends, he agrees to go into the city dressed as a woman and kiss a girl he likes. When they go into the city, Yu and his friends come across a young teenage girl named Yoko, who is surrounded by a group of thugs. Yu, still dressed as a woman, then helps Yoko beat up the gang of thugs. Afterwards he kisses Yoko and runs away. He falls in love with her - the first time he's been in love with a girl - but Yoko falls for his disguise and develops feelings for his alter ego Sasori, or "Miss Scorpion".
Meanwhile, Yu is being followed by Aya Koike, a member of the cult group "Zero Church", who has become infatuated with him after she catches him taking a picture of her panties. Aya, who we are shown was sexually abused to the point that she became psychotic and set out on a series of violence sprees, including shooting every student in her class and cutting her father's penis off, devises a plan to bring Yu's entire family into the Zero Church, planning to gain the favour of Yoko by masquerading as Sasori.
Cast
- Takahiro Nishijima as Yu Honda
- Hikari MitsushimaHikari Mitsushimais a Japanese film actress, born on 30 November 1985, in Okinawa, Japan. She began her career in 1997 as a teenage idol singer in the J-pop groups Folder and Folder 5. She made her acting debut in Rebirth of Mothra II in 1997, but did not start acting regularly until 2005...
as Yoko Ozawa - Sakura Ando as Aya Koike
- Makiko Watanabe as Kaori Fujiwara
- Atsuro Watabe as Tetsu Honda
Awards
The film won the following awards:Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
- Caligari Film Award - Sion Sono
- FIPRESCI Prize - Sion Sono
Fant-Asia Film Festival
- Best Asian Film - Sion Sono
- Jury Prize: Best Female Performance - Hikari Mitsushima
- Most Innovative Film - Sion Sono
- Special Jury Prize - Sion Sono
Hochi Film Awards
- Best New Talent - Hikari Mitsushima
Kinema Junpo Awards
- Best New Actor - Takahiro Nishijima
- Best Supporting Actress - Hikari Mitsushima
Mainichi Film Concours
- Best Director - Sion Sono
- Sponichi Grand Prize: New Talent Award - Takahiro Nishijima & Hikari Mitsushima
Yokohama Film Festival
Yokohama Film Festival
The is a noticed yearly awards ceremony held in Japan. The festival was started as a small affair by fans and film critics, and first held on February 3, 1980. Ten films are chosen as the best of the year, and various awards are given to personnel...
- Best New Talent - Hikari Mitsushima
- Best Supporting Actress - Sakura Ando
The film was also nominated for the following awards:
Asia Pacific Screen Awards
Asia Pacific Screen Awards
The Asia Pacific Screen Awards is an international cultural initiative of the State Government of Queensland, Australia, through Events Queensland, to honour and promote the films, actors, directors, and cultures of Asia-Pacific to a global audience and to realise the objectives of UNESCO to...
- Achievement in Directing - Sion Sono
Asian Film Awards
Asian Film Awards
The Asian Film Awards are presented annually by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society to recognize excellence of film professionals in the film industries of Asian cinema.-History:...
- Best Director - Sion Sono