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« THE TIMES BFI 53rd LONDON FILM FESTIVAL: FANTASTIC MR. FOX PRESS CONFERENCE | Main | TIFF 2009: DEFENDOR »
Wednesday
Oct142009

TIFF 2009: AIR DOLL 

DateWednesday, October 14, 2009 at 11:42AM | AuthorMitchell Tully

Air Doll (Kuki Ningyo)

Released: 2009

Directed by: Hirokazu Kore-eda

Starring: Doona Bae, Arata, Itsuji Itao, Jô Odagiri

Genre: Drama

Short Review:

Air Doll is a perplexing and emotionally touching film that has the potential to horrify its audiences. While I feel the film is not for everyone, I thought it was an excellent film that possessed a lot of soulful questions about existence, God, sexuality, culture and our purpose(s) in life. The film is centered on an air doll, Nozomi, that gains the ability to move and think for herself. Through her newly acquired life she attempts to discover the outside world and find her purpose in life. The film can be deeply touching seeing Nozomi (Doona Bae) learning about the world, but also quite disgusted by the same world. If you like unique Japanese cinema, this should be on your list of films to see this year.

Full Review:

The film starts off with Hideo (Itsuji Itao), a middle-aged man that works at a restaurant where he is not treated as well as he would like.  He goes home every night and chats with his counterpart Nozomi before they go to bed together. While Hideo’s life can be called conventional or ordinary, the real story belongs to Nozomi, Hideo’s air doll.  One day, after Hideo leaves for work, Nozomi miraculously starts to move and act of her own accord, she even adopts a more flesh-like exterior instead of her regulation plastic skin.

Nozomi’s first exploration of her new world is very child like, while wearing her standard issued maid outfit, but is unquestionably remarkable and heartfelt from her perspective. Upon leaving the apartment only a few days old, she follows and tries to interact with anyone and everyone she meets, attempting to mimic their habits and discover her own identity.

While Nozomi’s story is quite whimsical, the cold truth always remains about her origins.  The notion that she is not like normal people is always present and the fact that she is practically labeled as a substitute person adds another layer of grim reality to her fairy tale. This question of identity makes Air Doll truly remarkable and thought provoking.

Through Nozomi’s wanderings, she meets several people that enter into a discussion with her about the nature of humanity, and how our technology, civilizations and ‘progress’ has corrupted our core principles, almost making us fake or hollow inside. Because Nozomi is still only a few days old she interprets these discussions as literal truths, that there are people that are not truly ‘real.' The idea that there are more individuals just like herself creates a sense of excitement within Nozomi that is beyond reproach and prompts her to reach out to other potential ‘air dolls.'

These discussions, as well as the core philosophical ideology this film possesses is very reminiscent of such amazing films as Blade Runner, The Matrix, Dark City and even The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Where they all try to look at the characteristics we apply to our own humanity: how our actions and those around us help to define us as individuals and as communities. I would also like to mention that the film is based on a twenty-page graphic novel by Gouda Yoshiee called, The Pneumatic Figure of a Girl.  While I have not read this novel yet, this film has easily made me put it on my ‘must read list.'

As soon as I heard this film was going to be shown at TIFF, I knew I had to see it and I was not disappointed one bit. The film went from being happy-go-lucky with Nozomi’s grand day out to very dark and unnerving as she learns more about the dark side of humanity. While it possesses a few scenes that are not meant for the weak of heart, it is an incredible film that should be checked by people that enjoy films with a dark humour and a potential twisted sense of morality.

SHARP OBJEX Rating: 4 out of 4

Air Doll Trailer
Comment20 Comments | | |
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Reader Comments (20)

I wanna see this! ... looks fun

October 15, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterzhina

I JUST managed to see this movie at TIFF! I tried 3 times to buy tickets but they were all sold out, and waited 2 hours in the rush line to finally get seats! Totally worth it, this movie was brilliantly done and very moving. Probably one of my favorites of my TIFFing <333 Very well written review!

Also: there's a manga of this?! What?! Must read!

October 19, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterSteph Medryk

I was very very lucky to get this film as one of my first picks because I talked to a lot of people that cursed me for getting tickets to it. I totally agree with you steph, Air Doll is probably one of my favourite films from this years TIFF (I'd also put "bunny and the bull" and "Max Manus" high on my list too).

I am hopping that this film will get a North American release (I'm slightly skeptical but one can hope) or at least a fairly quick DVD release so that I can get my friend's to see it.

And thanks for the kind words, I only learned about the Manga off the Tiff site, and I want to try and find it too!!

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