I believe there were a handful of movies last year that served as a type of litmus test for your own personal level of cynicism and disenchantment about the world. “Juno” was one of those movies, but the tiny indie drama “Lars and the Real Girl” was probably the strongest example of this. I say that because when I saw this movie about a withdrawn young man with emotional problems who pretends a blow-up doll is his girlfriend, I could barely sit through it. I just couldn’t make the leap of faith it took to believe the people in Lars’s community would go to such extreme lengths to help him by playing along with him that the doll is real. I also didn’t think someone so damaged by life was going to be so easily helped. (I guess that means I failed the cynicism test.)
A few months have passed, and I just watched “Lars” on DVD this week. My reaction was completely different this time around. I was deeply moved by the different emotional layers of the film as it moved along, and I thought it was one of the more beautiful portraits of hope and unconditional love that I have seen in a long time. In a society that celebrates overmedicating, excess, and running away from problems as coping strategies, the people in “Lars” are a reminder of what we each can learn from each other when we help each other through tough times. (Guess who’s not feeling so cynical about life these days?)
So if you missed this story when it was in very limited re-release last fall, “Lars” is my DVD pick for this week, highly recommended for its thoughtful, intelligent look at how a community can change a man’s life with just a little faith.
posted April 18, 2008 at 8:46 pm
I am so glad you recommended this film. I have also seen the film twice and I also found it deeply moving. I won’t spoil it for those who have yet to see it, but both times, the words “casserole” and “that’s what we do” made me cry. Beautifully written and acted and a truly inspiring example of what community really means.
posted April 19, 2008 at 3:12 pm
“Lars and the Real Girl” was a great film.It reminded me that it takes a village.I can’t imagine an entire town ‘having my back’ like they did Lars in the movie,but it did my heart good to see and let myself be taken away for awhile.
My b/f and I were at the store the other day and someone had left an 80 year old man there alone,he needed a ride and we took him home.What was sad was that as soon as we got there he immediately tried to pay us.I assume he is used to having to pay,probably a good bit,for what was only a 5 mile drive.He had a really nice truck in the drive,but cannot drive in this state because he is 80.
Too bad people don’t treat others in reality as they do in the movies.
Maybe if we all just do one thing for a stranger,every chance we get,our towns could could be just a little more like Lars’?