Antiporno

I am pleased to announce that my very first encounter with the filmmaker Sion Sono has left a lasting impression on me. I have always appreciated unconventional and absurdist perspectives, particularly those that boldly critique the dualities and hypocrisies inherent in our society.

"Antiporno" serves as a courageous commentary on art, pornography, patriarchy, and the ingrained exploitation present in each of these realms. The story explores the intricate notions of power, freedom, and identity, specifically for women; concepts for whom are often shaped and distorted by media, men, and societal biases.

The narrative unfolds through the character of Kyoko, a brash and sexually liberated young artist whose abrupt plunge into a state of helpless paranoia employs the 'unreliable narrator' trope. And this approach effectively blurs the line between nightmarish imagination and unbearable reality, adding considerably to the film's intrigue.

However, the limited screen time and insufficient exploration of the supporting characters prevented me from rating the film higher.

I don't think it is a masterpiece.

Yes, I can understand the theme even if I'm not familiar with Japanese cinematography. There is a lot of symbolism and it acts as an abstract social commentary and I'm sure it resonates a lot better with the repressed Japanese society than it does with me.

However, this doesn't mean it is a good movie. A similar movie that breaks the fourth wall is Dogville. But that movie makes sense. The plot is interesting. There is coherence to it. It hits you hard, emotionally. The final scene feels right even if it is so wrong. It is a masterpiece compared to this.

This movie is a set of almost random scenes that are connected by an overall theme of feminine repression and sexuality and chaos. It's the movie that critics will look at and say "wow, this is so freakin' deep" when as an experiment in cinematography, is fine, but as a movie, fails dramatically.

Sure, you can think I'm a moron and that I don't understand conceptual cinematography and that this movie is not for a caveman like me. But I've seen similar movies and theatre and I don't mind the idea. The idea and concept are goods. The execution itself is flawed. I should have feel shocked or disgusted or thoughtful or anxious at the end and I'm not. I felt bored. I was asking myself "c'mon, when does this end?". The first part was interesting, especially breaking the fourth wall, but overall, I found it a waste of time.

I exist. I exist here. I know I exist. I exist, but not today. Today comes constantly. It'll come until I die. But I don't exist today. We don't exist in the todays we've lost. It appears as if we do, but we don't.

You wake up from a nightmare where your life is just a character evolving on stage, for the amusement of others. But you wake up. To reality. Or ... are you still on stage? If yes... where is the exit? Where?

An item that appears repeatedly throughout the movie gets a very strong meaning at the end of it. A lizard who grew too big to ever get out of the bottle he's in! Where's the exit? Where?

Antiporno is not a porn movie. It contains some nudity scenes, vulgar language and many shocking scenes. And color. A lot of color sometimes. Liquid even. But besides, it's hard to say what it is. Perhaps for someone more familiar with the work of Japanese director Sion Sono, things are clearer. It is a symbolic film, requiring an effort to understand it. And I believe that a profound knowledge of Japanese society is indispensable.

This movie is such a complicated critique on not only Japan's Roman porno industry but on the society and culture that gave rise to it and where that culture stands now in the 21st century. It is as complicated as all good art and the twists and turns will confuse and provoke even viewers who are familiar with the history of the genre and the culture. It has a lot to say but what you understand from it is quite open to interpretation... or is it? Full of symbols and symbolism, with meaning that is changed as quickly as it is attached. In the end it is a piece of art... or the most existential porno ever made?

First off, this is one crazy film. Not altogether surprising as the Japanese films we get to see in the UK have a tendency to be pretty crazy and this being a film by Sion Sono, we should not be surprised if it is double crazy. Ami Tomite is beautiful and scary, skimpily dressed and nude but always shouting. Unless she is on the receiving end that is because things do change around a bit here. Lest we get too comfortable with her ordering others to strip and perform as a whore or a dog, it is being done to her. For fun or for the cameras, because there is also a film crew within the film. They also seem pretty crazy and in case we should get the impression that this is lots of sex and violence just for the sake of it, there is a devastating message hear that basically concludes that Japanese men will never allow Japanese women to be anything other than a dog or a whore. Nice!