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Love Exposure

Play trailer Poster for Love Exposure 2011,  3h 57m,  Comedy/ Drama/ Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 90% 21 Reviews Tomatometer 88% 2,500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
90% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Raised by an extremely strict Roman Catholic, a young man, who sneaks snapshots of women's panties, meets a gal who becomes his Virgin Mary.
Love Exposure

What to Know

Critics Consensus

An engagingly funny melodrama as well as an ambitious exploration of sexual behavior, Sion Sono's Love Exposure provides nearly four hours of extremely strange and entertaining cinema.

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Critics Reviews

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Chris Chang Film Comment Magazine Jun 17, 2013
Clocking in at 237 minutes, Sino's film possesses a rambling, free-associative structure. Go to Full Review
Jeannette Catsoulis New York Times Sep 1, 2011
4/5
Exhibiting astonishing dexterity, Mr. Sono shapes all this trauma into a narrative that's completely coherent and surprisingly touching, never more so than in Yu's struggle toward sexual maturity. Go to Full Review
Mark Jenkins NPR Sep 1, 2011
It's a campy rampage that runs a few minutes shy of four hours, dooming what otherwise would likely be a bright future as a midnight movie. Go to Full Review
Tim Brayton Alternate Ending Apr 5, 2020
4/5
A film about being overwhelmed, as much as it's an overwhelming film, and it's the most excitingly exhausting kind of too much. Go to Full Review
Donald J. Levit ReelTalk Movie Reviews Dec 1, 2011
Manga-indebted but without lens trickery, this is exhilarating cinema experience. Go to Full Review
Sara Maria Vizcarrondo Boxoffice Magazine Sep 22, 2011
4/5
This four-hour opus about the fury of love and the love of fury is ritually fascinating, often excessive and, with a caution the film wields like a blade, achingly poignant. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Han S Jan 14, 2019 Well... this was a different kind of movie, to say the least. Going into the final act I was not a fan of the film and couldn't for the life of me understand how people could like it, let alone be giving it 4.5* and 5*. But then the last hour of the movie really salvaged it. The upskirt photography, which is required for the plot of Love Exposure is uncomfortable and way too over the top (not at all in a good way)... it's really uncomfy because they're showing girls' panties who look like they're 12-13 years old. How anyone can watch that and think it's nice art is just messed up in my book. I'm sure (or rather I really really hope) all the girls were at least 18 years old and they must be because I can't find any uproar about that issue. Other than that I would classify this as more of a comedic love story than anything else. There are definitely some thrills to be had, and some dramatic moments, as expected in a 4 hour movie. The thing that really boggles my mind is that wiki says the film was originally **6** hours long but had to be cut down to 4 at the producers' request. I don't think any 1 movie can be or should be 6 hours long. Even for Sion Sono - who is the only reason I watched this epic movie. See more
Han W Mar 2, 2018 This is ridiculous stuff! I wonder how come it is regarded as one of the best Japanese films of the 21st century. It might be sheer nonsense on purpose but its hard to sit through the running time just short of 4 hours. The beauty of the whole thing is that nothing makes any sense and it was almost impossible to connect with the characters at any level. Sure it is different, but very hard to digest. See more
Harry R Dec 26, 2017 Worth your four hours.
Luke R Jul 19, 2017 Even though it is long by regular movie goer standards, you will not notice the time while watching it! The plot is complex, but it all comes together. I am not sure this is the best translation of the original Japanese. I would have maybe translated it as "Revealing Love". While religion features prominently in the movie, it is not a religious movie, love in its different forms and its power is the main theme. Happy Watching! See more
Harry W Jul 13, 2017 Runs far too long, but the story and characters are interesting enough to keep you engaged throughout. Quite an offbeat, but touching love story. See more
Leia M Mar 18, 2017 Sinful to watch, yet creatively done. Perhaps the weirdest Japanese movie that I have watched.
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Love Exposure

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis Raised by an extremely strict Roman Catholic, a young man, who sneaks snapshots of women's panties, meets a gal who becomes his Virgin Mary.
Director
Sion Sono
Producer
Yutaka Morohashi
Screenwriter
Sion Sono
Distributor
Olive Films
Production Co
Omega Project
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 2, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 29, 2019
Runtime
3h 57m
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