The Real Girl (and Lars)

It's been too long between posts. Time flies...

I'm moved to comment on the film "Lars and the Real Girl," an impressive little film I saw for the first time last night. Sure, I'd heard about it when it was released and added it to my list of movies to see, but being the indie film it is, it never made it to theaters around this area.

I caugt it on Showtime last night and found it to offer most of the things I like in a movie: good acting, interesting and quirky characters, and a lot of heart. (Okay, sometimes I like explosions and sci fi elements in a movie, but that's in a whole different category.)

I won't do a full recap of this film, but what I liked about it is the levels of love it addressed--the need for love, the love of and acceptance by family, the love and acceptance by community, and, for lack of a better term, imagined love and loneliness. Lars is heavily introverted and delusional in his love of Bianca, a life-size doll he orders throught the internet and whom he believes to be a real girl. Initially his brother and sister-in-law, as well as the whole town, think this "relationship" is quite odd, but because of the love they all have for Lars, and upon the advice of his doctor, they go along with the premise. Eventually, they all sort of begin to think of her and treat her like a real person. (She even volunteers at the hospital.)

I was especially intrigued by how the community learned to play along and how Bianca became part of their lives in some small way, all because of their willingness to help Lars. I wish we could all be as understanding and accepting of all of our community members. Wouldn't that be utopian!?!

In the end and, I think, because of the love and support offered by the community, Lars works through his delusion and Bianca "dies." After the funeral, which the whole town attends, he seems more connected than ever to reality and the people around him, possibly even the real real girl that works in the cubical next to him.

This isn't a sappy or cloying film, but quite emotionally engaging while feeling real. I'm sorry I missed it when it first came out and am glad I caught it now. It might just be added to my list of favorites of all time.