Love

“Love” (2015) is an erotic drama movie etched in the mind of every viewer because of its genius as well as undertones of intimacy as well as controversy. Love is an erotic film like no other. The combination of intensity, passion, memory, love and regret is something very unique. As expected from filmmaker Gaspar Noé, the film bears the hallmark of his trademark unsimulated sex scenes which are set in 3D. Love is trademark ‘artistic’ storytelling at its peak.

Plot Summary

Murphy, an American who has relocated to Paris is the central character of the film. On New Year’s Murphy discovers a voicemail from the mother of his ex-girlfriend which sends him on a spiral of painful memories. All these memories revolve around his ex-girlfriend Electra, who is stuck in a toxic relationship with him.

Themes & Style

Gaspar Noé, prefers using nonlinear storytelling approaches like in his provocative films such as Irreversible (2002) and Enter the Void (2009). Love, on the other had, captures Murphy’s splintered mind. The film is a poetic meditation on love, regret, hedonism, and the irrational consequences of one’s thoughtless actions.

The vision behind Love combines dreamlike cinematography with neon lights and explicit sexuality to portray love at its most carnal, raw, and physical. Noé blends pornography with art house cinema, making love stand out and become one of the most controversial films of its time.

Reception & Controversy

When it first came out, Love faced harsh criticism and negative reviews. However, it later gained recognition for having a cult following. While some critics appreciated Noé’s bold dive into personally passionate topics, others claimed it instilled passion without emotion. Regardless of the controversies, the film stands as a prominent figure in the discussion of eroticism in cinema, most notably, for the hatred it received.