Controversial headline director-provocateur Gaspar Noé returns after a six year absence with his emotionally charged fourth feature Love, a sexually explicit semi-autobiographical melodrama.
“I want to make movies out of blood, sperm and tears” proclaims Murphy (Karl Glusman) a self-indulgent would be American film student living in Paris with his charismatically unstable artist girlfriend Electra (Aomi Muyock). These tedious star-crossed lovers are witnessed through a fractured narrative bookended by a viciously sour break up and confident first union. All of which is frequently interspersed by seemingly eternal copulation sequences gratuitously shot in cinemascope 3D.
For the average cinema goer Noé’s notorious back catalogue may be an uncompromising step too far for mass consumption and his latest boundary pushing venture is no different. From full frontal nudity (of both genders) to partaking in the couple’s long fantasied ménage a? trois, it is clear that Noé is unabashed whilst exploring sexual filmic taboos. The unsimulated sex scenes (of which there are plenty) do most of the heavy lifting throughout the papier-mâché drama accompanied by a whispery voiceover so irksome you will be wishing there was a mute button to hand. A soul crushing experience all-round Love is an unprovocative dud.
Running time: 135 minutes
Rating: 18
Director: Gaspar Noé
Cast: Karl Glusman, Aomi Muyock, Klara Kristin
*1 star*
