Lars and the Real Girl DVD
Mon 25 August 2008
Jacqueline Smith, Master of Communication
In a world that is often ugly and callous, occasionally compassion reaches out when ridicule and isolation could easily have been offered.
Lars has lived all his life in the same small town. Here, his mother died giving birth to him and his brother left home to escape from their heartbroken father. Then his father died. Lars is no stranger to pain and loneliness. This goes some way in explaining why Lars would fall in love with something that could not hurt him or leave him - a sex doll, he named Bianca.
Bianca is an orphan, just like Lars, but her life is full, whereas Lars’s life is small and fearful, she spends her life trying to help others, or so Lars informs anyone who will listen. Bianca is a trained nurse and has worked as a foreign missionary. Her life is a manifestation of what Lars wants his life to be: A meaningful and valued life filled with purpose.
By a third of the way into the film you forget about the absurdity of a man falling in love with a sex doll, taking her to church and not having sex with her because they both have strong religious beliefs. You are engrossed in the story of a community’s understanding and compassion for one of their own who is troubled and lonely.
This film is an excellent observation of human nature and despite all the sadness and delusion, the film can be quite funny and touching. There is nothing creepy or weird here, so don’t be put off by the sex doll angle.
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