We are talking psychological drama hidden in light and humorous atmosphere with a fantastic delivery! Although light, eccentric and even absurd, the general feeling of the film doesn't seem parodic (for the most part!).
Everything that happens, looking from a psychological aspect, kind of makes sense. All the characters' (which you are so easily drawn by) reactions, development, morale behind their actions add up to where the plot leads them.
What Mr. Sion Sono wanted to do (and succeeded in) with this movie is tell a story about actions and reactions, about how people from similar backgrounds can easily be both same, yet so different. It's a story about love, pain, strength, devotion, kindness and ultimately, morale.
4 hour length of the movie is very justified by the complexity of the plot. Not only we are able to connect to characters, the storyline picks up many turns and twists we never expected and changes genre as the story progresses.
I must not fail to mention, if you aren't open minded, skip it. If you get triggered by people not being heteronormative then skip it. Dislike Japanese cinematography and humor? Ehh, maybe skip it as well. Hardcore religious? Yeah, definitely skip it. Fetishism makes you uncomfortable? Hard skip, otherwise, you are in for a treat, especially if you have been enjoying a lot of movies and a lot of genres (it would definitely help if you watched some film festival movies featuring different cultures). Fantastic work Mr. Sion Sono, for this movie I thank you sincerely!
Everything that happens, looking from a psychological aspect, kind of makes sense. All the characters' (which you are so easily drawn by) reactions, development, morale behind their actions add up to where the plot leads them.
What Mr. Sion Sono wanted to do (and succeeded in) with this movie is tell a story about actions and reactions, about how people from similar backgrounds can easily be both same, yet so different. It's a story about love, pain, strength, devotion, kindness and ultimately, morale.
4 hour length of the movie is very justified by the complexity of the plot. Not only we are able to connect to characters, the storyline picks up many turns and twists we never expected and changes genre as the story progresses.
I must not fail to mention, if you aren't open minded, skip it. If you get triggered by people not being heteronormative then skip it. Dislike Japanese cinematography and humor? Ehh, maybe skip it as well. Hardcore religious? Yeah, definitely skip it. Fetishism makes you uncomfortable? Hard skip, otherwise, you are in for a treat, especially if you have been enjoying a lot of movies and a lot of genres (it would definitely help if you watched some film festival movies featuring different cultures). Fantastic work Mr. Sion Sono, for this movie I thank you sincerely!