Love Exposure 2011

Yu Honda, a young teenage Catholic, strives to lead a life filled with faith and order. Before his mother passes away, she makes a heartfelt request for him to marry a woman as beautiful as The Virgin Mary. Following her death, Yu’s father, Tetsu, becomes a fervent Catholic priest and establishes his own church. As Yu matures, he becomes convinced that his destiny is to find and marry someone named Mary.

Meanwhile, a woman named Kaori develops an intense obsession with Tetsu, ultimately getting him to reciprocate her feelings. The three of them begin a fragile cohabitation in a new house, but as secrets build up, Kaori grows weary of their hidden relationship and decides to leave, leaving Tetsu despondent and heartbroken. In a desperate attempt to reconnect with his father, Yu is forced to attend confession daily, where Tetsu relentlessly questions him about his sins. Unable to admit to any wrongdoings, Yu resorts to fabricating sins only to be caught in his lies.

Determined to provoke a reaction from Tetsu, Yu seeks out a group of delinquent boys: Takahiro, Yuji, and Senpai, who introduce him to a life of petty crime, including voyeuristic “panty shot” photography under the tutelage of a man named Llyod. Unlike his peers, Yu’s motivation for taking these photographs stems from his desire to confess sins rather than mere lewdness. However, this leads to conflict with Tetsu, who disowns him and casts him out of the church.

In a twist of fate, Yu encounters a trio of girls led by Koike while out on the streets and ends up photographing them, though he is caught in the act. Amused rather than angered, Koike lets him go, sparking inspiration among Yu’s friends as they join him in his photography escapades. One fateful bet leads Yu to don a female costume reminiscent of Meiko Kaji in Female Convict #701: Scorpion, adopting the persona of Sasori (Scorpion).

Yu’s path intersects with a girl bravely standing up against a group of thugs, whom he perceives as his potential Mary. The narrative thickens when we delve into Koike’s life, who rises through the ranks of a New Religious Movement known as the Zero Church, stemming from a traumatic childhood that shapes her violent disdain for men. Her journey leads her to discover Yu, further entwining their fates as she crafts plans to manipulate his family.

As Yoko, another pivotal character, is introduced, her life appears marred by the shadows of abuse, leading her to develop deep-seated hatred toward the concept of a happy family. Her eventual bond with Kaori offers her brief respite, but it is short-lived as Kaori becomes enmeshed with Tetsu, prompting a whirlwind of conflict.

Through the evolving chapters, Yu’s duality as both a faithful son and a wandering sinner emerges. As Sasori, he fights against adversaries, generating newfound feelings for Yoko, who sees him as an enigma. Yet, her journey leads her into dangerous territory as Koike continues her vendetta.

As the story unravels through betrayal, manipulation, and profound loss, Yu’s fleeting identity struggles are brought to a head when he ultimately joins the Zero Church under duress. A chaotic sequence of events ensues, culminating in an effort to liberate Yoko from the cult’s grasp. How far will Yu go to reclaim a love that seems forever out of reach?

In a haunting conclusion, the cult’s secrets unravel, leading to disillusionment and despair. With Yu in a mental institution wrestling with his identity, the threads of their connection become a bittersweet memory. The tragic fate of their stories intertwines, culminating in the ultimate revelation – a moment of clarity and reconnection that resonates deep within the chaos of their lives.

In the end, as the dust settles, one question persists: can love transcend the darkness that enveloped their lives?