IMDb > Kûki ningyô (2009)

Kûki ningyô (2009) More at IMDbPro »

Videos
Kûki ningyô (2009) -- Cine.gr - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   104 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Down 15% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Hirokazu Koreeda

Writers:

Yoshiie Goda (manga)
Hirokazu Koreeda (screenplay)

Contact:

View company contact information for Air Doll on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

26 September 2009 (Japan) more

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A life-size blow-up doll develops a soul and falls in love with a video store clerk. | add synopsis

User Comments:

A sweet, sad fable about the loss of innocence more (4 total)


Cast

  (Credited cast)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:

Air Doll (International: English title)
more

Runtime:

125 min | Canada:116 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Hong Kong:117 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1 more

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Japan:R-15 | Hong Kong:IIB

Filming Locations:

Tokyo, Japan

Company:

Engine Film more


FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
3 out of 4 people found the following comment useful.
A sweet, sad fable about the loss of innocence, 14 October 2009
8/10
Author: Howard Schumann from Vancouver, B.C.

Korean actress Bae Doo-na is superb in Japanese director Hirokazu Koreeda's latest film Air Doll. Shown at the Vancouver Film Festival, Air Doll is based on the Japanese manga The Pneumatic Figure of a Girl and tells the story of a life-size inflatable doll used as a sex object for a lonely waiter who finds a heart and becomes a real person. The film is supported by the enchanting photography of Mark Lee Ping-bing who worked with Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wei in In the Mood for Love, and poetic images abound. When the film opens, Hideo (Itao Itsuji), returns from work as a waiter and begins a conversation about his day and everything seems normal until we discover that he is talking to a doll propped up in bed that he calls Nozomi, (the name of his former girl friend). Though she is a mannequin, he tells her about his life, gives her a bath, dresses her, and has sex with her each night.

One morning, Nozomi (Bae Doo-na) wakes up and finds her heart and is transformed, at least as far as appearances are concerned, into an ordinary human being. Displaying the innocence of a child, Nozomi, dressed in a French chambermaid's uniform, goes out to explore the outside world and finds out what it means to be human (and how society treats women), picking up patterns of speech from neighbors, but comes home each night to resume her roll as the compliant inanimate doll for her master. Nozomi soon lands a job in a video store and quickly learns about movies though she has never seen one and develops a friendship with the attendant Junichi (Arata), while continuing to believe that her only function is to provide sexual pleasure.

Promoting the idea that everyone is empty at their core and must be fulfilled by the companionship of others, Koreeda introduces a host of minor characters such as an old poet who feels betrayed by the world, the doll maker who created her, a woman fearful of being left alone, and a bitter old woman. Junichi abruptly learns about Nozomi's non-human status, however, when she falls and pricks her arm and all the air is drained out of her. In a very erotic scene, Junichi inflates her by blowing air into the plug in her stomach and their relationship is sweet. Nozomi discovers, however, that being half human and half doll is not fulfilling and wishes to become fully human but cannot find anyone to help her, turning to her maker (God?) for assistance.

Air Doll is a sweet, sad fable about the loss of innocence and Bae Doo-na is funny and touching in the role of a childlike doll in the tradition of Pinocchio. While it is valuable to view the world from a childlike perspective and discover once again, for example, how beautiful the stars are, having a mannequin eventually become a mirror of humanity's dark side serves little purpose. Yes, life is ugly and beautiful, sad and full of joy, but this is hardly a revelation. The film, which took nine years from planning stages until completion, has important comments about alienation in the modern world, but at two hours the simple premise is stretched too thin. Koreeda makes the point repeatedly about the emptiness of humans, forgetting that cities are home not only to lonely, alienated, and empty people but to brilliant, fulfilled, and compassionate individuals who contribute much value to our world.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (4 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Kûki ningyô (2009)

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Wandâfuru raifu Tokyo Skin Rinne Good Dick Dare mo shiranai
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb Japan section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.