Romance Doll (2020)

Romance Doll (Yuki Tanada, My Dad and Mr. Ito) is really hard to describe, and I swear it's not just because I haven't written a review in months. I kind of remember how to do this... kind of. Romance Doll is just one of those films, a film that at first glance seems like something you wouldn't really enjoy, or maybe something you just don't get, but after a little while, after you've given it a chance, it shows you everything its got, and you're just blown away. It might seem like I'm exaggerating, but truly, I'm not.  

Romance Doll is a film about Tetsuo, a recently graduated art student who finds work in a love doll factory, making, well I'm sure you can guess what. Tetsuo isn't all that bothered by the art of love doll making, but his boss is, and quickly they become friends. His boss wants to make the perfect love doll, and to do this, he believes he needs to make moulds of (insert a part of the female body I probably can't mention on here) from a real woman's body. That's where Sonoko enters, and quickly she becomes more than just a model to Tetsuo; they get married. But, their marriage is riddled with secrets, Tetsuo's being the most obvious (as you'll see when you watch), but Sonoko's being a little more hidden. 

Without spoiling too much, Romance Doll deals with love, life and everything in-between with such grace and beauty, looking at the reality of marriage, or falling in love too quickly, of the turbulence of life and so much more, while beautifully contrasting it with the cold, lifeless nature of love dolls. There's this brilliance in the cinematography, where the love doll factory is shrouded in cold, harsh blues, but the relationship between Tetsuo and Sonoko is almost always cast in a bright, orange glow. It's a brilliant comparison, perhaps one of the most interesting done with this narrative, and only trumped by Air Doll (Hirokazu Koreeda, Shoplifters) which is absolutely a movie that you should go see if you enjoyed this. Everything about this film exudes talent and craft; from the amazing acting, to the well written and convincing dialogue that leads to genuine chemistry between the two leads, it's just a really well made film. 

It's not perfect though. It almost is, but not entirely. The ending is a little strange and perhaps goes on a little too long. The film, while certainly clever in its cinematography (namely the execution between the cold blue and radiant reds from fantasy to reality mentioned before), it doesn't have much flourish or style in this regard, being rather blunt and flat in its visuals. This isn't necessarily an issue, as it could detract from the overall film, but it's worth noting. Like I said, it is almost perfect, and these are issues easily overlooked, especially when you get immersed and completely hooked by the film's outstanding narrative.

Honestly, what makes this film truly special is just the way it made me feel once I'd finished it. It's one of those films where you look back and you remember how it all started, and are blown away at how it came to its conclusion. It's truly a remarkable film, from beginning to end, blending comedy and intense emotional moments with such grace and skill, making it a truly special film. It's a weird film, I'll give you that, and it helps to have an understanding of Japanese culture beforehand, but it is a great film, and I won't lie and say I didn't cry, because I sure as heck did. This is absolutely worth your time, and I highly recommend, if you haven't already, to go and watch it. 

9/10