jason ball

One of my favourite films that really hit close to home for me. It’s a near perfect film with great performances all round and good pacing. The first 20 minutes or so are tricky to read, with a seemingly dark tone taking place ( being cold, wintery and hopeless for Lars), you’d maybe have thought the film was going somewhere else, but it kicks into gear very quickly. It’s very hard to like and understand Lars at first, as people seemingly make a great effort to be friendly and welcoming to him which he just seems to bat away every time. But what the film does well is explain his position and background gradually as the film goes on, helping you understand why he is like what he is. This is Important as people who suffer from forms of mental illness are often dismissed very quickly because they are that extra bit tricky to understand and tolerate sometimes. It’s nice to see a film have an unrealistically kind attitude towards someone like Lars from the other characters, because in the end it shows the audience what being supportive and understanding can do for someone suffering with an illness or an episode like lars has. Ryan Gosling is great as the character and is very believable as someone who has the struggles he does and has suffered the trauma he has in his earlier life. The acting is excellent throughout and the supporting cast all show a very realistic and funny reaction to his situation. Whilst trying to understand they question it and show what a community must do in order to support one of their own. I think that is the one thing to take into consideration when watching, it’s a small, tight knit community that is more likely to be accepting and supportive of lars rather than a big city which would be punishing for him. The trauma that you discover he has suffered makes his actions so much more believable and the scenes in which he is telling the doll about his life and taking her to places he has visited in the past is a way of him telling his story to someone without actually having to if that makes sense. His confidence visually grows and the support from the doctor in wanting to know more about his struggles allows him to release a lot of the tension he must have built up. Lastly the portrayal of how love can be different for people is great. There aren’t any overly dramatic scenes where he finally kisses the pretty girl across from him at work, no sudden changes in his personality to the point where he’s a different man. It takes its time to allow the character of lars to make little steps forward with his life after being a castaway for so long. The scene in which he simply wants to shake but more so hold the hand of Margo after their evening at the bowling is beautiful. It’s a small thing but shows the connection between the characters and how simply touching another person is a true showing of romance for the character. We don’t know for certain if they will end up with each other long term into the future, but it’s nice to think because of his experience with Bianca the doll, he’s finally ready to build a loving relationship with a girl for the first time, by simply asking Margo if she would like to join him for a walk. Absolutely recommended, it will give you hope and happiness and bring you to tears which is what films like this should do. Approach with an open mind and give it time and you will enjoy it no doubt. P.S the musical score Is great, very heartwarming.