Lars and the Real Girl
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Set in a small Canadian town in the grip of winter, this comedy is the story of Lars Lindstrom, a sweet-natured but reticent young man who rebuffs social interaction with his family and colleagues at every opportunity for the seclusion of his flat, in the garage family home, and his computer.
Whilst surfing the web he meets Bianca, a wheelchair-bound half-Brazilian missionary on a sabbatical to experience the world. Smitten, he invites her to come and stay with him.
Problem is, Bianca is a life-sized, anatomically accurate silicone sex doll. To Lars she is a living, breathing person with whom he develops his first meaningful relationship, and who he does not wish to share with those around him.
For this to work, the delusion must be shared. Unsure of what to do, his sister and brother-in-law, Karin and Gus, arrange for Lars and Bianca to see the local doctor, who also is a psychologist. She diagnoses Bianca with low blood pressure and recommends that she and Lars, return regularly for 'check ups'. The doctors advise Karin and Gus to accept Bianca as real and to enlist the co-operation of their friends and colleagues. Obviously, not all are open to the idea but, as with James Stewart's 'Harvey', Bianca begins to have a real effect on the lives of those who come in contact with her.
It is difficult to fault Lars and the Real Girl. It moves at its own pace, never resorting to the 'gross-out' that could have occurred should this have been trusted to, say, the Farrelly brothers. In the lead, Ryan Gosling gives a totally believable performance, ensuring that as the early spring begins to thaw Lars' town, the film delivers an ending that will warm your heart and have you reaching for the tissues.
Problem is, Bianca is a life-sized, anatomically accurate silicone sex doll. To Lars she is a living, breathing person with whom he develops his first meaningful relationship, and who he does not wish to share with those around him.
For this to work, the delusion must be shared. Unsure of what to do, his sister and brother-in-law, Karin and Gus, arrange for Lars and Bianca to see the local doctor, who also is a psychologist. She diagnoses Bianca with low blood pressure and recommends that she and Lars, return regularly for 'check ups'. The doctors advise Karin and Gus to accept Bianca as real and to enlist the co-operation of their friends and colleagues. Obviously, not all are open to the idea but, as with James Stewart's 'Harvey', Bianca begins to have a real effect on the lives of those who come in contact with her.
It is difficult to fault Lars and the Real Girl. It moves at its own pace, never resorting to the 'gross-out' that could have occurred should this have been trusted to, say, the Farrelly brothers. In the lead, Ryan Gosling gives a totally believable performance, ensuring that as the early spring begins to thaw Lars' town, the film delivers an ending that will warm your heart and have you reaching for the tissues.
Here Is The Writer : Martin Gallagher
Martin Gallagher has never played for West Ham or England, nor had a number one hit single, but he has worked in the City for many years (for what that's worth). A life-long Londoner, he made the migration from east to west a few years back and is still trying to get used to the absence of fried chicken takeaways and the over abdundance of coffee shops. Martin is married, has two daughters, and is also interested in travelling, football and writing. He hopes to publish his first novel 'sometime in the future'.
view more articles by Martin Gallagher
