Lars and the Real Girl

I am a judge for the Indianapolis-based Heartland Film Festival. This feature film is a Crystal Heart Award Winner and is eligible to be the Grand Prize Winner in October of 2007. The Heartland Film Festival is a non-profit organization that honors Truly Moving Pictures. A Truly Moving Picture “…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life.”

Lars, played by last year’s Academy Award best actor nominee Ryan Gosling, is an unusual 27 year-old man. While he is somewhat normal in that he can drive a car and hold a job and go to church, he is painfully introverted and shy. He lives in a small room off of a garage and not in the main house with his normal brother and normal sister-in-law.

His life is an ever-repeating internal life with no other human breaking in. And then, his fellow cubicle worker gives him a web site address where he can order an anatomically correct plastic woman, and to exact specifications. She, a very attractive piece of plastic named Bianca, arrives via UPS and his immediate family and the town are never the same.

How should the family and the small town treat Lars and Bianca? They can’t ignore it because Lars takes Bianca everywhere in his car and a wheelchair. His family seek advice from a Medical Doctor/Psychologist. They convince Lars that Bianca is sick and needs weekly check-ups. And the plot thickens as everyone is affected by Lars and his delusions.

This is a very funny story. This is a very dramatic story. Ryan Gosling is incredible. You suspend disbelieve. This movie examines the question how do you love a person effectively when they have a mental illness. The answer or, one answer, will surprise you.

FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.