Lars and the Real Girl
2007 · Directed by Craig Gillespie
Original language: English
- drama
- romance
The story
Extremely shy Lars finds it impossible to make friends or socialize. His brother and sister-in-law worry about him, so when he announces that he has a girlfriend he met on the Internet, they are overjoyed. But Lars' new lady is a life-size plastic woman. On the advice of a doctor, his family and the rest of the community go along with his delusion.
What it’s like
Soft, overcast Wisconsin daylight and muted, wintry palettes give the small-town frames a gentle, unhurried look, with a lot of stillness in the hallways, kitchens and snowy yards. The camera tends to hold back and let scenes breathe, so the community's patient, sometimes awkward kindness plays out in full view. The score is sparse and tender, with quiet piano and few swelling moments, and the silences between lines carry as much as the dialogue. Its vibe is warm and wistful, a little sad and deeply humane, with an undercurrent of grief that never turns cruel. It suits a rainy Sunday, a slow evening in, or a comfort watch when you want something tender and unhurried. Intensity is low: there is no violence or gore, and sexual content is absent, though themes of loss, illness and death surface gently and are handled with care. For people who want a character-driven, emotionally honest film with humour that comes from kindness rather than cynicism.
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