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{{Nihongo|'''''Air Doll'''''|空気人形|Kūki Ningyō}} is a [[2009 in film|2009]] [[Cinema of Japan|Japanese]] [[drama film|drama]] film directed by [[Hirokazu Koreeda]]. It is based on a [[manga]] by [[Yoshiie Gōda]], which was serialized in the seinen manga magazine [[Big Comic Original]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://mainichi.jp/enta/mantan/archive/news/2009/02/16/20090216mog00m200034000c.html | title=Mainichi jp's news about the movie adaptation | date=2009-02-16 | accessdate=2009-06-04}}</ref> and is about an [[Sex doll|inflatable doll]] that develops a soul and falls in love.<ref>{{cite web| title = ''Nobody Knows' '' Kore-eda Brings ''Air Doll'' to Cannes| url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-23/nobody-knows-kore-eda-brings-air-doll-to-cannes| publisher = [[Anime News Network]]| date = 2009-04-23| accessdate = 2009-04-25}}</ref> The movie debuted in the [[Un Certain Regard]] section at the [[2009 Cannes Film Festival|62nd Cannes Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web| title = Kuki Ningyo (Air Doll)| url = http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/10905156/year/2009.html| work = festival-cannes.com| accessdate = 2009-05-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| last = Shackleton| first = Liz| title = Ocean Films takes French rights to Kore-eda's Air Doll| url = http://www.screendaily.com/news/distribution/asia-pacific/ocean-films-takes-french-rights-to-kore-edas-air-doll/5000564.article| publisher = [[Screen International]]| date = 2009-04-29| accessdate = 2009-05-24}}</ref> It opened in Japanese cinemas on 26 September 2009.
{{Nihongo|'''''Air Doll'''''|空気人形|Kūki Ningyō}} is a [[2009 in film|2009]] [[Cinema of Japan|Japanese]] [[drama film|drama]] film directed by [[Hirokazu Koreeda]]. It is based on the [[manga]] series [[Kuuki Ningyo]] by [[Yoshiie Gōda]], which was serialized in the seinen manga magazine [[Big Comic Original]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://mainichi.jp/enta/mantan/archive/news/2009/02/16/20090216mog00m200034000c.html | title=Mainichi jp's news about the movie adaptation | date=2009-02-16 | accessdate=2009-06-04}}</ref> and is about an [[Sex doll|inflatable doll]] that develops a soul and falls in love.<ref>{{cite web| title = ''Nobody Knows' '' Kore-eda Brings ''Air Doll'' to Cannes| url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-23/nobody-knows-kore-eda-brings-air-doll-to-cannes| publisher = [[Anime News Network]]| date = 2009-04-23| accessdate = 2009-04-25}}</ref> The movie debuted in the [[Un Certain Regard]] section at the [[2009 Cannes Film Festival|62nd Cannes Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web| title = Kuki Ningyo (Air Doll)| url = http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/10905156/year/2009.html| work = festival-cannes.com| accessdate = 2009-05-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| last = Shackleton| first = Liz| title = Ocean Films takes French rights to Kore-eda's Air Doll| url = http://www.screendaily.com/news/distribution/asia-pacific/ocean-films-takes-french-rights-to-kore-edas-air-doll/5000564.article| publisher = [[Screen International]]| date = 2009-04-29| accessdate = 2009-05-24}}</ref> It opened in Japanese cinemas on 26 September 2009.


Director Koreeda has stated that the film is about the loneliness of urban life and the question of what it means to be human.<ref>{{cite web| title = "Air Doll" floats over Un Certain Regard| url = http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/article/56463.html| work = festival-cannes.com| accessdate = 2009-05-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Japan director says sex doll film has lessons for life| url = http://www.bangkokpost.com/print/143386/japan-director-says-sex-doll-film-has-lessons-for-life| publisher = [[Bangkok Post]]| date = 2009-05-15| accessdate = 2009-05-24}}</ref>
Director Koreeda has stated that the film is about the loneliness of urban life and the question of what it means to be human.<ref>{{cite web| title = "Air Doll" floats over Un Certain Regard| url = http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/article/56463.html| work = festival-cannes.com| accessdate = 2009-05-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Japan director says sex doll film has lessons for life| url = http://www.bangkokpost.com/print/143386/japan-director-says-sex-doll-film-has-lessons-for-life| publisher = [[Bangkok Post]]| date = 2009-05-15| accessdate = 2009-05-24}}</ref>

Revision as of 10:10, 11 May 2010

Air Doll
Promotional poster
Directed byHirokazu Koreeda
Written byHirokazu Koreeda (screenplay)
Yoshiie Gōda (original manga)
Produced byHirokazu Koreeda
Toshiro Uratani
StarringBae Doona
Arata
Itsuji Itao
CinematographyPin Bing Lee
Edited byHirokazu Koreeda
Music byWorld's End Girlfriend
Distributed byAsmik Ace Entertainment
Fortissimo Films
Ocean Films
Release date
14 May 2009
Running time
125 minutes
CountryTemplate:FilmJapan
LanguageJapanese

Air Doll (空気人形, Kūki Ningyō) is a 2009 Japanese drama film directed by Hirokazu Koreeda. It is based on the manga series Kuuki Ningyo by Yoshiie Gōda, which was serialized in the seinen manga magazine Big Comic Original,[1] and is about an inflatable doll that develops a soul and falls in love.[2] The movie debuted in the Un Certain Regard section at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival.[3][4] It opened in Japanese cinemas on 26 September 2009.

Director Koreeda has stated that the film is about the loneliness of urban life and the question of what it means to be human.[5][6]

Plot

Middle-aged Hideo lives alone with an inflatable doll he calls Nozomi. The doll is his closest companion. He dresses it up, talks to it over dinner, and has sexual intercourse with it. However, unbeknown to Hideo, Nozomi was created with a heart. After Hideo leaves for work each day, Nozomi dresses in her maid's outfit and explores the world outside their apartment with a sense of child-like wonder. Toward Hideo she plays being a lifeless doll. She encounters various city residents who metaphorically are as "empty inside" as she is. When Nozomi meets Junichi, who works at a local video store, she falls in love with him and gets a part-time job at the store. She learns about the world through the movies she watches with Junichi. One day she is punctured in an accident, and repaired and saved by Junichi. Later, at his request, she allows him to deflate and re-inflate her. He tells her that he is empty inside too. She tries to deflate him by making a "hole" in him, but he dies from the wound. Sad, she places herself in the garbage.

Cast

Reception

Reaction to the film's debut screening at Cannes was mixed, with reviewers praising Bae Doona's performance but criticising the film for its length and a lack of substance. Screen International's Dan Fainaru described the film as having a "rather thin narrative core" and its director's approach as "too diffuse", but concluded that it could be "an enjoyable work" under the right conditions.[7] Writing for Variety, Dan Ellery said the film would have potential if cut to about 90 minutes but that "in its present form, pic may not get much farther than the fest netherworld."[8] In contrast, The Hollywood Reporter's Maggie Lee described it as "an achingly beautiful meditation on loneliness and longing in the city" and suggested its themes would particularly appeal to female audiences.[9]

The film has a 43% "fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatoes.[10]

DVD

The film was released on DVD in Japan on 26 March 2010, in standard and limited editions. Both editions include English subtitles.[11][12]

References

  1. ^ "Mainichi jp's news about the movie adaptation". 2009-02-16. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
  2. ^ "Nobody Knows' Kore-eda Brings Air Doll to Cannes". Anime News Network. 2009-04-23. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
  3. ^ "Kuki Ningyo (Air Doll)". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  4. ^ Shackleton, Liz (2009-04-29). "Ocean Films takes French rights to Kore-eda's Air Doll". Screen International. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  5. ^ ""Air Doll" floats over Un Certain Regard". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  6. ^ "Japan director says sex doll film has lessons for life". Bangkok Post. 2009-05-15. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  7. ^ Fainaru, Dan (2009-05-15). "Air Doll (Kuki Ningyo)". Screen International. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  8. ^ Ellery, Dan (2009-05-15). "Air Doll". Variety. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  9. ^ Lee, Maggie (2009-05-15). "Film Review: Air Doll". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  10. ^ http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/air_doll/
  11. ^ "Air Doll (Regular Edition)". CDJapan. Retrieved 2010-01-28.
  12. ^ "Air Doll (Limited Edition)". CDJapan. Retrieved 2010-01-28.
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