Gaspar Noé’s Love is a film about a relationship that can’t stop hurting itself. Murphy and Electra are a couple who meet, hook up, get high, fight, and fuck in ways that leave everyone around them wondering what kind of people they are. It’s a film about desire, addiction, and the slow destruction of trust, told in a fractured, non-linear form that mirrors the chaos of the relationship itself.
The film opens with Murphy getting a phone call from Nora, the mother of his ex-girlfriend Electra. Nora hasn’t heard from her daughter in three months, and she’s worried. Electra has issues with depression and has attempted suicide before. That phone call sends Murphy back through the history of his relationship with Electra, a history that’s messy, complicated, and frequently violent.
Trailer, via Universal Pictures At Home.
The Setup
Murphy is an American film student living in Paris. He shares a small apartment with his Danish partner Omi and their 18-month-old son, Gaspar. Electra is his ex-girlfriend, and the film spends most of its runtime recalling how Murphy and Electra met, hooked up, and spent the next two years together. Their relationship is defined by drug abuse, rough sex, and occasional tenderness. The film is notable for its unsimulated sex scenes, which are graphic and unflinching.
The Flashbacks
The bulk of Love is structured as a series of fragmented, nonlinear flashbacks. These scenes jump between moments of intimacy, arguments, and quiet domestic scenes. Murphy and Electra’s first meeting is tender and electric. Their hook-up is fast and furious. Their lives together are filled with drug abuse, rough sex, and moments of genuine affection. The film doesn’t shy away from the ugliness of their dynamic, nor does it romanticize it.
The Threesome
One of the central events of the film is a threesome involving Murphy, Electra, and Omi. Omi is a young adolescent at the time, and the scene is presented as a way for Murphy and Electra to add some excitement to their love life. The scene is uncomfortable to watch, and it sets the tone for the film’s willingness to confront difficult subjects head-on.
The Secret
What follows is the crux of the story. Murphy continues his sexual relationship with Omi without Electra’s knowledge. This leads to an unplanned pregnancy. The condom broke. Omi refuses to terminate the pregnancy because she is against abortion, having been an unplanned child herself. When Murphy finally admits the truth to Electra, the relationship ends. Murphy and Omi raise the child together in a loveless relationship.
The Uncertainty
The film ends without resolving Electra’s fate. We don’t know what happened to her after she left. This open ending is a deliberate choice, and it leaves the audience unsettled. It’s a fitting conclusion to a film that refuses to provide easy answers.
The Technical Craft
Noé’s direction is assured and confident. The film is shot in 3D, which adds a layer of physicality to the intimate scenes. The sound design is immersive, with music and ambient noise blending into the action. The performances are strong across the board. Karl Glusman plays Murphy with a weary intensity, and Aomi Muyock plays Electra with a brittle, unpredictable energy. Klara Kristin is effective as Omi, though her role is limited.
The Problem
The film’s strengths are also its weaknesses. The non-linear structure can be exhausting. Some scenes feel repetitive, and the film’s refusal to resolve Electra’s story might frustrate viewers looking for closure. The sex scenes, while technically accomplished, can be difficult to sit through. The film is unrelenting in its depiction of pain, both emotional and physical, and that relentlessness can become overwhelming.
The Verdict
Love is a challenging film that rewards patience. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s an honest one. The film’s refusal to soften its characters or their actions is admirable, even when it’s uncomfortable. It’s a portrait of a relationship that can’t escape its own toxicity, and it’s made with a clear artistic vision.
| Element | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Plot | Nonlinear structure reflects the chaos of the relationship | Can be exhausting and repetitive |
| Performances | Karl Glusman and Aomi Muyock deliver committed work | Klara Kristin’s role is limited |
| Sex scenes | Graphic and unflinching | Can be difficult to sit through |
| Ending | Leaves the audience unsettled | Refuses to resolve Electra’s fate |
Love is a film that demands attention and offers few comforts. It’s a worthy, if flawed, addition to Noé’s body of work.
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