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VIFF 2009 | Air Doll (Japan)
By gloria wongAir Doll
Japan, 2009, 116min
DIR Kore-eda Hirokazu
In the latest film from one of Japan's greatest working filmmakers Kore-eda Hirokazu, Hideo is a lonely middle-aged waiter living in a depressing Tokyo apartment. His only company, indeed it seems his only relationship, is with Nozomi, an inflatable sex doll. But Hideo doesn't just use Nozomi just for sex. He talks to her about his day, bathes her, has dinner with her, and kisses her goodbye in the morning. For Hideo, Nozomi is the ideal girlfriend - she is pretty, she dresses up kinky outfits, she doesn't have emotional needs, and she even comes with a convenient removeable vagina. She is perfect, until Hideo leaves for work on day and Nozomi comes to life in the apartment, having grown a 'heart' (perhaps a soul) for no reason in particular. Inevitably in this sort of story, Nozomi ventures out of the house, eager to learn about the world and find beautiful things. She discovers that she can pass as human and gets a job at the local video store. There she meets Junichi and discovers a connection that is mutual, unlike her one-sided relationship with Hideo. He doesn't even blink when she starts to deflate in front of him after accidentally piercing herself at work. Still, she returns to Hideo's at the end of every day, shuts herself off emotionally and dutifully plays the role she was made for until he passes out.
While the director's trademarks - great performances, compact poetic metaphors, obsessively detailed cinematography - and a few of his most persistent themes - fragility, loneliness, survival - are all on display, there is something that doesn't quite work. Based on a short manga by Yoshiie Goda, Air Doll feels slight - which is especially disappointing when one considers Kore-eda's history of taking whisps of ideas and turning them into brillant films (the plots of Nobody Knows, After Life, and Maborosi could all be told in a single haiku). Though there are many lovely moments throughout this challenging film, Air Doll feels, well, empty inside.
Sat. Oct. 3, 9:45pm, Empire Granville
Sun. Oct. 4, 4:00pm, Empire Granville
Schema Magazine's coverage of VIFF 2009 is sponsored by the Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival
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October 7, 2009 at 3:56 PM
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