CIFF: Air Doll

By Rob Christopher in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 7, 2009 4:40PM

This is part of Chicagoist's continuing coverage of the 45th Chicago International Film Festival.

A man comes home at the end of the day and sits at a table having dinner with his beloved, Nozomi. He tells her all the latest work gossip. Later they cuddle in bed and he makes love to her. He goes to sleep happy. There's only one thing that's peculiar: Nozomi is a blow-up doll.

The next day while the man is away at work Nozomi magically comes to life. Still dressed in her frilly French maid's outfit she ventures forth from the apartment and, like a plastic Chauncey Gardiner, explores the city. Eventually she comes upon Cinema Circus, an indie video store. She notices a "Help Wanted" sign at the counter and applies for the job.

Director Hirokazu Kore-eda has fashioned an ingenious fantasy which allows him to explore weighty themes like personal identity and the meaning of life without being ponderous. As Nozomi, South Korean actress Du-na Bae gives an astonishing performance. Her blank stare is gently robotic yet charged with personality. She's only an "air doll" but she's got more life than most of the humans she interacts with. Her curiosity takes her (and us) to some surprising places. Especially moving is a scene where she meets the designer who fabricated her.

Kore-eda only falters at the story's end, when things take a violent turn that's hard to swallow. Nevertheless for most of its running time this is a charming movie. So charming that it makes you forget that its protagonist is essentially an animated sex toy.

Air Doll screens October 17, 18, and 19.