Love & Pop is a Japanese drama film that follows the story of Hiromi, a 16-year-old schoolgirl who lives with her parents and dreams of a brighter future. However, she becomes involved in compensated dating when she realizes that it is a way to earn quick money. Along with her friends, she meets older men who pay to spend time with them.
Hiromi becomes more and more invested in this world as she tries to raise money for an expensive ring she wants to buy. She meets various men, including one who promises to help her achieve her dreams of becoming a model. As Hiromi becomes more involved in the world of compensated dating, she begins to question the choices she has made and faces the harsh realities of this dangerous lifestyle.
The film explores the themes of youth, exploitation, and the precarity of modern life in Tokyo. Director Hideaki Anno uses handheld cameras and naturalistic lighting to create a documentary-style film that immerses the viewer in the world of compensated dating. Love & Pop is a raw and disturbing film that offers an unflinching portrayal of a dark aspect of Japanese society.
