Shion Sono, a multifaceted artist, is a Japanese director, writer, and poet, born in Aichi Prefecture in 1961. Prior to embarking on his film directing career, he honed his craft as a poet. As a student, Sono experimented with short filmmaking, capturing a series of Super 8 films. This early experience laid the foundation for his feature film debut in the late 1980s and early 1990s, during which he also took on acting roles.
Sono's breakthrough film, Love Exposure, released in 2008, catapulted him to international recognition and solidified his status as a cult director. This milestone marked the beginning of his Trilogy of Hate, consisting of Ai no mukidashi, Cold Fish, and Guilty of Romance, released in 2008, 2010, and 2011, respectively.
The films of Shion Sono often revolve around the lives of socially marginalized teenagers or young adults, whose circumstances lead them to engage in activities involving murder, sexual abuse, and criminal behavior. Notably, Sono's films frequently feature graphic violence and blood-soaked scenes, paying homage to the long-standing pinku eiga and anime traditions of Japanese cinema.
