Japanese Director Hirokazu Koreeda‘s film, Air Doll, screened at the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF) on Friday night. At the screening, director Koreeda said through an interpreter that last year SFIFF showed his movie, Still Walking, a very personal movie dealing with his feelings about his mother.
Air Doll, on the other hand, is a story of a sex doll that comes to life, explores the city, and falls in love. He noted that this is a very different type of movie in style, content and taste. He forewarned us that some of us might feel hesitant about watching this movie.
To which I say, “um…Director Koreeda, do you not see the huge crowd packed into the theatre and balcony of the Sundance Kabuki?’ I think most San Franciscans would say,” a movie about a sex doll wearing slutty outfits and making plastic love to the socially awkward? Where do I get in line?“
The film festival asked that all reviews for this movie be held, but I will say that this story of love and urban alienation was a pleasure to watch. Inspired by a manga by Yoshiie Goda, it is in many ways a very adult fairytale. A kinky Pinocchio story told through the eyes of a sex doll.
Air Doll plays again on Sunday, May 2 at 6 PM at the Kabuki.
