LOVE AND OTHER CULTS (2017)

 

Written & Directed By: Eiji Uchida

Cinematography: Maki Ito

Cast: Sairi Ito, Kenta Suga, Kaito Yoshimura, Antony, Matthew Chozick, Denden, Leora Hirota, Tomoko Hayakowa, Hidenbu Abera

Born in a regional city, a young girl named Ai is sent to a cult commune by her religious maniac mother and lives there for seven long years. After the cult is exposed by the police, Ai starts a new, normal life going to a regular middle school, but can't find a place to fit in normal society. Ai drops out to continue finding her path in life, first living with a rock-bottom delinquent family, then moving on to be part of a middle-class family, all along trying to find her place in this world. The only person who understands Ai is Ryota, another drop-out and cast-off from society. Ryota finds his path in a shady world of delinquents while Ai ends up working in the sex industry. Two teens' purity gets swallowed up by the urban jungle of a big regional city. A black comedy depicting the lives of modern youth and their struggles in a place where there is no way out.

This is a film best to go into blind though even if you know the plot it still isn’t the easiest to explain. 

The cast is mostly newcomers to the screen who come off expertly, but also excel in raw talent on screen and seem untrained. Even though Lead Actress Sairi Ito goes through it all on screen and deserves special Acclaim. 

This is the third film by the writer/ director Eiji Uchida and I can definitely say that his films are original and you never know quite what to expect and that mystery makes the films exciting. Not to mention showing a bravery that has been missing from cinema In a while definitely not the most mainstream but so Indie and aiming more for a cult audience that it makes his films admirable no matter how controversial for some they might be.

As they focus on Characters more  on the fringe of society and so far In Their own way has been films they are coming of age stories no matter what the ages of the characters 

A film Mainly about the loneliness of youth so that they find camaraderie and family wherever they Can.Though as they try to support one another the film shows that the only way for them to grow and find their own paths is truly as individuals. They might meet someone who helps them align and who ultimately they end up with but first must go through many things alone 

Throughout though many adults seem to mean well. As major influences they either screw up the kids more through actions, abandonment, or both. As we see even their peers sabotage them through jealousy 

Some have compared this film to the epic film LOVE EXPOSURE by Director Sion Sono and it has that same kind of off-kilter feel that feels a bit fetishistic at times. That film had more than enough time to fulfill its story being 5 hours long (but truly never felt that long) not to mention that film was fully devoted to exploring fetishes and the characters who live that lifestyle. Here we get snippets of it. 

Here though the stories stop for certain characters at times that feel like fragments you get the general idea,  Throughout. In that other film, there is an innocence there the entire film tries to be a romance. Ultimately  this one feels a bit more tawdry though with a love story 

They are both coming-of-age stories though this one has its own rhythm that if you can get along with the best this film will be  worthwhile if not it will just stay strange to you 

The film is very composed, especially in its shots and bright colors. That almost makes the film feel illustrated at times.

It has a slightly diverse cast and nothing is ever said of their origins, though is clearly noticeable and a bit mysterious.  

The film shows that Love can be like a cult as it is mainly two of you at the center but you must get to know and hang around each other's friends and families even if you have nothing in common with them and become sort of the crew, a kind of second or third family. You take on Each other's characteristics slowly and interests. How they Make sacrifices and little donations of time and money.

Grade: B