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This isn't love. This is selfishness. (Spoilers)

posted 9 years ago by TenchuIMDB
2 replies | jump to latest

The irony of the movie's title, "Love," is that the only kind of "love" displayed between Murphy and Elektra is a false, hedonistic kind.

Especially Murphy, who has proven to be a selfish prick thoughout the whole movie. He, of course, is named after Murphy's Law, but I can't help but think that he brought all of his pain and misfortune upon himself. And it's not because of dumb luck, either, but because all he thinks about is himself and his own feelings. It's easy to mistake these feelings as true love, but it's even easier when you are immature and don't know how to take responsibility for your own life. (The bastard even blames Elektra for going to the swing club together, even though it was HIS idea.)

Are we supposed to feel any sympathy for him? Probably not, nor are we supposed to feel any for all the other characters.

Such as Elektra, who of course is addicted to pleasure. She said so herself, she is afraid of pain. She would rather commit suicide than to die in pain (i.e. live with pain). She probably stayed with that jackass Murphy for so long because of the way he made her feel, both emotionally and physically, but it the end, it cost her dearly. Maybe even her life.

How are we, the viewers who suffered through this movie, supposed to take the so-called "love" that these two had for each other seriously? Even the promises they made to each other were empty and based on fleeting emotion. (Really Murphy, you were going to protect her? Or were you just going to protect your own "possession"?) Of course they're going to end up destroying each other. Neither of them actually committed themselves to serving the other. Both were only in it for the feelings they got from each other.

I don't know if this movie is supposed to be a tragedy, a romance, or a dark commentary on society's idea of "love," but I saw anything but true love on display here. Maybe that's the point, but if so, it's a warning to all of us who all too easily confuse love as a feeling with what love should really be.

There, I got that off my chest.

[–] kadajawi 9 years ago

It's a Gaspar Noé movie. Going into one expecting to see something about true love is a bit naive. It's a movie about a messed up character (who, the movie hints at, is really Gaspar Noé). For that character it is love, but it is a weird, *beep* up kind of love at best.

And you know what? There doesn't have to be more to the movie. It's a character study, it doesn't need so much plot. I quite liked it, I've known people like the ones in the movie.

[–] Od1n 9 years ago

With all these names mess it could be Noe's gestalt movies about himself, his relations with parents, wife, etc. Murphey is his mother name, the Murphies kid is Gaspar, could symbolize ill mother-son relationships.

Anyway it's a good movie, Cannes 2015 was really great, many good films I didn't see yet. I love this artistic minimalistic approach after all these hollywoods comix babadooom flicks. It's like a fresh breath.

Also I like how this approach shows the other side of the medal - emptiness and pretension from artsy young people who just live their ordinary lives.