To learn more about these allegations, please read this report by Variety and visit this Twitter thread by actor Yuki Matsuzaki. Filmed in Ether does not tolerate any form of sexual misconduct and condemn those that abuse their positions of power. Sion Sono emerges from Japan as one of the most frequently compelling contemporary directors to work in the country today or any where else for that matter!
The maverick Japanese director remained relatively unknown in the west for many years, despite a few noticeable cult hits which had ridden along the coat tails of other Japanese horror hits. One could almost say that by dressing his films up with extreme imagery and adding an aesthetic that feels exploitative, it baits the viewer into acknowledging the larger ideas Sono addresses.
Even his association with Nikkatsu, a Japanese film studio once famous for releasing pink films, is proof of this. Being that these are the most extreme emotions we as people can display towards another person, Sono strongly believes that the two emotions go hand in hand, adding that that those who hate themselves, their immediate environment or hate the world are the most deserving of love.
In Love Exposure , the first film in the trilogy, Sono uses the popular high school romantic-comedy genre and adds his own patented twist on it by adding a hefty amount of religious connotations all throughout. Love Exposure essentially deconstructs religion, accepted or otherwise, in epic fashion across its four hour runtime, which Sono achieves so effortlessly. Throughout history, people have interpreted religious texts differently. Some have taken it literally, others find a metaphorical meaning behind it while many more bend scripture to fit their own agenda.
In the film, he disciplines his daughter by beating her into submission, forcing her to align her beliefs with his.
