2.5/5 stars
In Japanese cinema, sex dolls are surprisingly prolific. Whether employed as crutches for social recluses, as in Torso (2009) and Body Temperature (2011), or as magical avatars through which to examine urban alienation, like in Hirokazu Koreeda’s Air Doll (2009), they are almost exclusively inanimate companions for the emotionally isolated.
In Yuki Tanada’s Romance Doll, now streaming on Netflix, sex doll owners barely feature at all. Instead, the film marries a pair of evergreen narratives for indie films – the tragicomic romance and a celebration of traditional artistry – into a warmhearted tale of those responsible for creating these intimately lifelike playthings.
Issey Takahashi plays Tetsuo, an out-of-work artist who reluctantly accepts a job sculpting naked women from silicone, only to become passionately invested in the detailed craftsmanship.
Problems arise when he falls in love with his model, Sonoko (Yu Aoi), as she believes he is fashioning breast implants for cancer patients. This innocent white lie is left to fester, even after the couple marry, and weighs heavily on Tetsuo’s conscience.
Without dwelling on the end use of Tetsuo’s creations, we can appreciate his skills as a craftsman, and empathise with the stress of a competitive marketplace. But from the film’s opening moments, we are aware that Sonoko’s days are numbered, and it is only a matter of time before terminal illness rears its ugly head. As Tanada attempts to reconcile these two narratives, Romance Doll stumbles.
As tragedy looms, the lovers strike upon a plan, one simultaneously sacrificial and eulogistic, to ensure Sonoko’s memory will live on after her death. Although this is presented as a grand romantic gesture, the reality is decidedly more creepy, deflating what has been up to now a surprisingly sweet-natured and charming drama.
The implication that this decision is somehow a defiant and celebratory moment makes for a baffling and deeply unsatisfying climax.
Sex Doll is streaming on Netflix.
Want more articles like this? Follow SCMP Film on Facebook
China's healthcare sector was one of the best-performing equity classes globally in the first half of 2020. Get a comprehensive industry review and insights on Covid-19 induced market shifts with the China Healthcare Report, brought to you by SCMP Research. for our 50% early bird discount now. You will also receive access to 6 closed-door webinars led by China healthcare’s most influential C-suite executives. Offer Valid until August 10th 2020.
Recommended for you
