Lars & The Real Girl: A Perfect Quarantine Film

Lars and the Real Girl is a heart-warming romantic drama that was released in 2007. Unfortunately allot of people seem to be unaware of this gem, granted it was a commercial failure. If this plot doesn't make you wanna watch it, you have no taste…

Lars Lindstrom is a socially awkward and introverted guy functioning in his own lonely world. After his mother’s death a few years ago and more recently his depressed father, Lars’s mental health becomes more fragile. He now inhabits the separated cabin, keeping his distance from his brother and sister in law who live in the Lindstrom family home next door.

Karin (sister in law) is persistent in getting Lars to interact and attempts to invite him over regularly much to his dismissal. One life-changing and unsuspecting day, he orders a life-sized sex doll and introduces her as his girlfriend Bianca. Naturally, his brother Gus and Karin are shocked and immediately become concerned for his mental health. They seize an opportunity to use Bianca as bait, convincing Lars that she should get a check-up to mask their real concern.

Doctor Dagmar (also a psychologist) diagnoses Bianca with low blood pressure and instructs Lars to bring her in for weekly check-ups in order to discreetly monitor him. She reassures Gus and Karin that this may be his own way of involuntary therapy, whether he’s aware of it or not. She suggests that they should go along with his delusion and treat Bianca as a real person to help Lars work through a more concealed fundamental problem. The community also bands together in an unspoken agreement to support Lars through his therapy. They all welcome Bianca as a loving member of the community, involving her in town events and becoming the most popular person in town.

Honestly, this is the softest movie to watch if you're feeling down. Plus, the acting in this film is absolutely brilliant! The whole cast individually executed their roles exceptionally, but this is an underrated Ryan Gosling performance that needs more recognition. I never considered him an actor to watch/study in terms of acting (being an actor myself.) I only saw The Notebook last year and still don't get the attention he gained for his performance in that movie. But this one! Damn, this man can act! His fragile portrayal of Lars will capture your heart from the very first moment of contact. Prepare yourself to be very emotionally invested in his journey towards healing, because this movie had me in my feels.

I cannot say enough about how good this film is without giving too much away. Ultimately, a beautiful depiction of what the power of acceptance and love from a community should look like. If only people could be more accepting and willing to come together to help one another in times of need.

The portrayal of mental illness and how it is addressed/handled with care and sensitivity is rare in a film. However, Lars and the Real Girl in my opinion successfully nails it. One of my favorite lines upon the assessment of Lars's condition Dagmar states, "This isn't necessarily a bad thing. What we call mental illness isn't always just an illness. It can be a communication; it can be a way to work something out"

The theme of loneliness and the inability to connect is more and more relatable today with the world still under quarantine. Due to the current pandemic this is a great movie to watch in these times of self-isolation. This film serves as a reminder that we are not alone, even if we may seek to be, but only just for a little while…